Patent application title: Method and System for Demand and Supply Map/Shopping Path Model Graphical Platform and Supplying Offers Based on Purchase Intentions

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Abstract:

Methods and systems allowing a consumer to use a graphical tool that
summarizes, compares and browses multiple offers for products or services
over a network or communications medium such as via the Internet. In
specific embodiments, potential purchasers can make declarations to buy,
which sellers can use to generate improved and customized offers.

Claims:

1-135. (canceled)

136. An e-commerce system executing on one or more computing devices
providing sellers declared-demand information and improved marketing
tools and providing to consumers new, improved or customized offers
comprising: a consumer input module allowing consumers to input
information about products/offers they desire, wherein said information
comprising one or more of: desired specific product; desired set of
product features; preferable date of order/purchase or pick-up/delivery;
and data indicating a consumer's location; a grouping module able to
aggregate groups of consumers with identical or similar desired
products/offers into different consumer-desires-segments, wherein said
consumer-desires-segments are categorized by one or more of: region; time
(said consumers' preferable date); product features; a report module
providing to sellers reports and/or tools displaying said
consumer-desires-segments in form of lists and/or graphics, where sellers
can navigate, search and select said consumer-desires-segments; a target
module allowing sellers to target one or more consumer-desires-segments,
so that small and/or large groups of consumers that belong to the
selected consumer-desires-segments can be targeted with targeted offers,
wherein only the consumers belonging to said targeted
consumer-desires-segments receive said targeted offers. wherein consumers
input information about products they desire in order to receive new,
improved or customized offers.

137. The system of claim 136 further comprising: wherein said input
information further comprises an indication of a declared intention to
buy (DIB) by said consumer; wherein said grouping module aggregates and
organizes DIBs into DIB-segments, wherein said DIB-segments are
categorized by one or more of region, time, product features and offers
features; wherein said grouping module provides to sellers reports and/or
analytical tools displaying said DIB-segments; wherein said target module
allows sellers to respond to consumers DIBs one-by-one and/or to target
entire DIB-segments so that small and/or large groups of consumers, which
belong to the selected DIB-segments, can be targeted with offers, wherein
only the consumer DIBs belonging to said targeted DIB-segments receive
said targeted offers.

138. The system of claim 137 further wherein: said indications of a
declared intention to buy (DIB) include consumers inputting a level of
certainty of their purchase; said level of certainty of consumers'
purchase can be indicated by consumers by using a numerical value or by
using a qualitative value

139. The system of claim 137 further comprising: a module allowing
advertisers to pay and/or bid to place ads in relation to user search
results or shopping tool results and wherein said ads target said
DIB-Segments; and further wherein: said ads target the key words searched
by the user; wherein said key words are the same or related to the past
or actual DIB or DIBs, which were declared by a user; advertisers target
their ads at DIB-segments belonging to DIBs declared at the current
networked hub or DIB-segments belonging to DIBs declared at a third party
networked hub; a seller can create or edit offers that target
DIB-segments by determining at least one circumstance, event or
DIB-segment or a combination of them, and determining the conditions, or
rules of the offer or promotion related to the selected DIB-segment;
wherein every time that circumstance, event or DIB-segment or a
combination of them takes place, the defined set conditions, or rules
related to an offer or promotion will be sent to the consumers' DIBs that
belong to said selected DIB-segment. consumers can declare an intention
to buy customized products, wherein consumer can determine their
desirable product features as part of their DIBs. sellers can define
rules and options for product features configuration at said computerized
system; when a consumer DIB for a customized product with a certain set
of features; said computerized system would automatically mach, as much
as possible, the consumer's DIB product features requirements with the
seller's product features options defined at said rules and options for
product features configuration, sending a customized product DIB-offer to
the consumer DIB.

[0002] Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.71(e), Applicants note that a portion of
this disclosure contains material that is subject to and for which is
claimed copyright protection (such as, but not limited to, source code
listings, screen shots, user interfaces, or user instructions, or any
other aspects of this submission for which copyright protection is or may
be available in any jurisdiction.). The copyright owner has no objection
to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file
or records. All other rights are reserved, and all other reproduction,
distribution, creation of derivative works based on the contents, public
display, and public performance of the application or any part thereof
are prohibited by applicable copyright law.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to information design, e-commerce and
marketing fields. More particularly, it relates to computer systems and
applications that operates or interact with a graphical platform called
Demand and Supply Map/Shopping Path Model (DS/SP Model). Part of the
information operated by this model is generated by a marketing method,
called DIB process; where consumers can Declare their Intentions to Buy
(DIB) to get improved and customized offers. Besides academic and
governmental possible functions, the DS/SP model graphical platform and
DIB process are mainly designed to provide supporting shopping tools for
consumers and supporting enterprise/marketing tools for supply chain
stakeholders (such as retailers, distributors and manufacturers).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The discussion of any work, publications, sales, or activity
anywhere in this submission, including in any documents submitted with
this application, shall not be taken as an admission that any such work
constitutes prior art. The discussion of any activity, work, or
publication herein is not an admission that such activity, work, or
publication existed or was known in any particular jurisdiction.

[0005] Some earlier work discusses or employs various methods that allow
consumers to "declare what they want" in order to receive offers from
sellers. The intrinsic methods and results vary a lot, for example
according to 1-how consumers "declare what they want" and how this
information is processed, 2-how the "declarations" are diffused, analyzed
and processed into offers by supply chain agents and 3-the context of how
the results (offers) are presented to the consumers that "declared what
they want".

[0006] A wide spread prior art is the "Want ads", exemplified at iWant.com
patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,608, in this method people ad the need of a
general or specific product, a central system delivers the ads to
sellers, then sellers search (the list of ads), reading prospective ads
and answering them (sending offers) one by one.

[0007] Another prior art method is the Request For Proposal (RFP), a
standard way for buyers to request offers form sellers, in this method
buyers send RFP to sellers, and sellers respond them one by one. For
example, according to Fujistu Limited's patent U.S. Pat. No. 6, 686, 392,
consumers send their RFP to an electronic shopping system, which has an
electronic shopping agent (ESA), the ESA will send the RFP to respective
sellers, then sellers forward proposals to the ESA, and the ESA analyze
the proposals forwarding the best proposals to the requesting consumers.

[0008] Another popular prior art are the buyer-driven systems, where a
good example is the conditional purchase offer (CPO) family of patents
such as patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,169, at those methods a buyer dictates
the terms of the offer and one or more sellers decide whether to accept
or not, however buyers are bind to their offers by their credit card. In
this method, sellers predetermined their offers' rules of acceptance, so
when a CPO meets the requirement of the offers' rules (say fly
destination, date and price) the system automatically fulfills the
transaction. Another buyer-driven method is the reverse-auction; at
www(.)freemarkets(.)com, for example sellers bid for each buyer's
specific purchase/contract.

[0009] Another interesting prior art is Mark Landesmann, patent
application publication No. US 2002/0052779, named serious intent
mechanism and method, where sellers receive "declaration of intent to
purchase a good or service" using methods to discern what consumers have
higher likelihood to purchase and thus giving them more attention and
better service.

[0010] Finally, a further example of prior art method that somehow makes
the future demand for general or specific products transparent is the
analysis of users' queries at shopping websites, assuming that increase
in the number of queries of a product means increase of demand for that
product. Shopping.com's consumer demand index (CDI), measures the
variation (percentage) in the number of queries for products and display
them by graphics and lists, shown on FIG. 3. This method only represents
possible trends and a sign for potential sales; it provides neither a
means of communication among sellers and buyers (like the invention's DIB
process does), nor a marketing tool for sellers that allows specific
segmentation, targeting and offers creation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate screenshots of a tree map according to the
prior art.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an example screenshot of a consumer demand index
display according to the prior art.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates various aspects of a San Francisco Shopping Path
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates example screenshots of an animation illustrating
a user avatar going through an example shopping process according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates methods using a shopping path model according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 7a-e illustrates as an example the X, Y and Z position of a
user-avatar at a regional product shopping path according to specific
embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 8a-b illustrate an example shopping process of a consumer at a
product-shopping path according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates an example similar to that shown in FIG. 8a-b
further illustrating a declared intention to buy (DIB) in advance of a
purchase in order to get improved/customized deals according to specific
embodiments of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a further example showing a consumer comparing
options of products and declaring and intention to buy (DIB) to get
improved/customized deals according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example network of computer
systems in which different types of data (including demand and supply
information) is processed, according to one embodiment of the present
invention.

[0021]FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating different software
components of DS/SP modules according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0022]FIG. 13 illustrates an example graphical interface with an
interactive graphical shopping/price comparison tool located above a list
of products provided by a networked hub website according to specific
embodiments of the invention.

[0023]FIG. 14 shows a block diagram that illustrates an SP-tool row
displayed above product-rows that display a list of products according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 15 illustrates an SP-tool row expanding its height, moving the
product-rows downward the web page according to specific embodiments of
the invention.

[0025] FIG. 16 illustrates an SP-tool row with a shopping path tool at its
most contracted form inside it.

[0026] FIG. 17 illustrates an expanded SP-tool row with a shopping path
tool displaying its main control functions.

[0027] FIG. 18 shows a similar example shown on FIG. 17, illustrating two
of its panels opened according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 19 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool, which displays products and
offers information with the shopping path tool Shop control function
selected according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 20 illustrates an example screenshot illustrating a user
selecting products, by scrolling the product-selector; in this particular
case, the Shopping Path tool is set up to automatically show the lowest
price, delivery four to seven days from a trusted store (the $31.99
offer); where the selected offers is depicted at the Shopping Path panel,
the Offers panel and the specific-offer panel, according to specific
embodiments of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 21 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a Product panel according to specific embodiments of
the invention.

[0031] FIG. 22 follows the example shown on FIG. 21 illustrating a user
selecting a different offer for the same product, by scrolling right the
offer-selector until it reaches the offer with lowest price from its
offer category (4 to 7 days pick-up/delivery category) according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 23 illustrates that the designated space and offers squares of
the 4 to 7 days offer category contracted, and the designated space and
offers squares of the today offer category expanded.

[0033] FIG. 24 illustrates an example screenshots of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool displaying product and offers
information of a specific product according to specific embodiments of
the invention.

[0034]FIG. 25 follows the example shown on FIG. 24, illustrating that as
the user scroll down, and the top-rows of the list of products goes up,
the shopping path tool recognized the product information displayed at
the product-row according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 26 follows the example shown on FIG. 25, illustrating a user
minimizing the Product panel, so that the SP-tool row and the shopping
path tool recognize the product at the top-row of the list, which is
touching the bottom of the SP-tool row, according to specific embodiments
of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 27 follows the example shown on FIG. 25, illustrating a user
minimizing the Shopping Path panel (keeping only the Product panel open),
so that the SP-tool row and the shopping path tool recognize the product
at the top-row of the list, according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0038] FIG. 29 follows the example shown on FIG. 28 illustrating an user
clicking at the compare similar products button, so that only the
product-bars representing products with similar features of the Canon
Digital Rebel/EOS 300D Digital Camera remain displayed at the interactive
shopping path, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 30 to FIG. 33a illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing that product-bars, at the Shopping Path
panel, can be displayed into different modes and into different
categorizations, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0040]FIG. 33b illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing product-bars being displayed side-by-side, from the
most popular product to the least popular product; this example
screenshot illustrates the fact that if the product-bars are not arranged
in a increasing or decreasing pattern, the pattern arrangement becomes
unpleasant/unfriendly.

[0041] FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing the Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel
functions, which allows users to filter and select product and offers
with features that fits their needs.

[0042] FIG. 36-40 illustrate examples screenshots of an example graphical
interface showing the zoom control function, which allows users to
magnify the products and offer graphical representations displayed at the
Shopping Path panel, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 41 to FIG. 45 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing that as a user selects offers features, the
size of the squares representing the offers automatically adjusts to fit
into its designated area, while keeping its respective position at the
y-axis, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 46 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing the Shopping Path tool displaying (at the offers panel)
an extra layer of categorization for one selected offer category
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0045]FIG. 47 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing an alternative embodiment where the networked hub added
a "See Variety of Deal" button at each row of its list of products,
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0046] FIG. 48 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing that the color, size and the position of the shopping
path tool panels are adjustable and can be customized by the user,
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 48a illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing that the user customized the Offers panel, determining
that the offers from Amazon.com, ShoppingPath.com and eBay.com would be
placed side-by-side, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0048] FIG. 48b illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing that the user customized the Offers panel, determining
that the offers belonging to different categories would be placed
side-by-side as squares not bars, according to specific embodiments of
the invention.

[0049] FIG. 48c illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing that the user customized the Shopping Path panel,
determining that small product pictures are placed above their respective
product-bars; and the selected product-bars (and the product-bars close
by the selected one) have their product-pictures magnified, according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0050] FIG. 48d follows the example shown on FIG. 48c, illustrating that
the user determined that the small product pictures are placed at the
average price of their respective product-bars; and the selected
product-bars (and the product-bars close by the selected one) have their
product-pictures magnified above their respective product-bars, according
to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0051] FIG. 48e follows the example shown on FIG. 48d, illustrating that
the user determined that no product-bars are displayed, and only small
product pictures are displayed at their average price; and the selected
product-pictures (and the pictures close by the selected one) have their
product-pictures magnified, according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0052] FIG. 48f follows the example shown on FIG. 48e, illustrating that
the user determined that a map is displayed at the product panel, and
that map indicates the location of the stores, which have today pick-up
and delivery offers, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0053] FIG. 48g illustrates a shopping path panel that is deployed as an
advertisement (such as expandable rich media advertising) according to
specific embodiments of the invention .

[0054] FIG. 49 to FIG. 52 show flow charts that represent one particular
method describing processes (shown in FIG. 12) for implementing a GUI
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0055]FIG. 53a and FIG. 53b illustrate examples screenshots of example
graphical interfaces showing a product news/report being described by an
animated host avatar according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0056]FIG. 54 to FIG. 55 show flow charts that represent one particular
method describing processes (shown in FIG. 12) for implementing a GUI
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0057] FIG. 56 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing the position of one user-avatar among several other
users-avatars at the San Francisco digital cameras shopping path, as well
as the participants of the Live-chat at the US digital cameras shopping
path, both being described by an animated host avatar according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0058]FIG. 57 is a flow chart describing the user's shopping path
tracking process (not shown at FIGS. 11 and 12), performed by the
web-application (like a flash application) at the computer 1 of the user,
shown in FIG. 11, according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0059]FIG. 58 is a flow chart describing the SP-Life input process 602,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12, according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 59 is a flow chart describing the SP-Life output process 619,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12, according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0061] FIG. 60 is a flow chart describing the SP-Chat process 628,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12, according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0062] FIG. 61 is a flow chart describing an SP-Privacy Settings process
according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 62 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool displaying a panel of ads, located
at the upper part of the tool according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0064] FIG. 63 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool displaying a panel of ads, located
at the bottom part of the tool according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0065] FIG. 64 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a banner ad, advertising specific offers according to
specific embodiments of the invention., wherein the banner ad would be
placed at a giving position of a web page, such as at the top of the web
page.

[0066] FIG. 65 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a banner ad advertising a variety of available products
for sale according to specific embodiments of the invention, wherein the
banner ad would be placed at a giving position of a web page, such as at
the top of the web page.

[0067] FIG. 66 is a flow chart describing the SP-Ads process according to
specific embodiments of the invention

[0068]FIG. 67 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool with a DIB-section opened and
displaying a few DIB options for the consumer to choose according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0069] FIG. 68 is a flow chart describing the DIB process 402 implemented
at the DIB server (shown in FIG. 12) according to specific embodiments of
the invention.

[0070] FIG. 69 is a flow chart describing the DIB Segments process 480
(shown in FIG. 12) according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0071] FIG. 70 and FIG. 71 illustrate an SP-MKT tool row expanding its
height to accommodate the marketing shopping path tool different panels
and control functions according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0072] FIG. 72 illustrates an example screenshots of an example graphical
interface showing that the marketing shopping path tool (located above a
list of products) can interact with the list of products, when the seller
scrolls down/up the browser scroll button. The marketing shopping path
tool interacts with the list of products identically to how the shopping
path tool interacts the list of products, as explained on FIG. 24 to FIG.
27.

[0073] FIG. 73 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool with the
manage-my-offers panel opened according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0074]FIG. 74 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool with its
manage-my-offers panel opened, and in particular with the Public non-DIB
offers control function selected according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0075] FIG. 75 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying information
about DIB-segments (at US territory), as well as details of the seller's
DIB-offers for a specific product; allowing a seller to change an
existing DIB-offer according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0076] FIG. 76 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying the product
offers and DIB-information according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0077] FIG. 77 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying news/report
information being described by an animated host avatar according to
specific embodiments of the invention

[0078] FIG. 78 is a flow chart describing the Marketing Shopping Path tool
process 250 (shown in FIG. 12) according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0079] FIG. 79 is a flow chart describing the Offers (non-DIB) and
DIB-Offers creation and edit process 430 (shown in FIG. 12) according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0080] FIG. 80 illustrates an example screenshot of an animated regional
shopping path, and particularly an example illustration of the earth
shopping path according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0081] FIG. 81 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a simple animation of a regional shopping path, and
particularly a simple animation of an actual San Francisco shopping path
(built by past and actual sales data from a net-worked hub) according to
specific embodiments of the invention.

[0082]FIG. 82 is a flow chart describing the DS/SP model process 802
(shown in FIG. 12) according to specific embodiments of the invention.

[0083]FIG. 83 is a flow chart describing the DS/SP model animations
builder 850 (shown in FIG. 12) according to specific embodiments of the
invention.

[0084]FIG. 84 is a block diagram showing a representative example logic
device in which various aspects of the present invention may be embodied.

SUMMARY

[0085] According to specific embodiments, the present invention is
involved with methods and/or systems and/or devices that can be used
together or independently to improve a consumers shopping experience
and/or to provide information to vendors to improve or customize deals
offered by vendors.

[0086] In specific embodiments, the present invention can be understood as
involving new business methods related to purchasing or selling goods or
services, particularly on network computer systems.

[0087] Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and/or
systems for shopping and sales transactions over a communications
network. According to specific embodiments of the invention, a client
system is provided with a set of interfaces that allow a user to browse
and select offers for goods or services. The consumer client system
displays information that is representative of one or more offers for
sale of a good or services and displays an indication of an action that a
user is to perform to request a particular offer, to browse offers, or to
make declared intentions to buy. In response to a user input, the client
system sends to a server system the necessary information to access data
regarding products or services that potentially originates on a large
number of vendor information systems. The server system uses the request
data, and optionally one or more sets of server data, to process the
request. According to specific embodiments of the present invention, a
client system is, or has previously been, provided with an executable
code file that allows the client system to receive the data and to
present relevant data and interactive indications to a user.

[0088] Thus, in further embodiments, the present invention may be
understood in the context of sales transactions over a communication
media. An important application for the present invention, and an
independent embodiment, is in the field of providing browsing and
comparing items from multiple sellers over the Internet, optionally using
Internet media protocols and formats, such as HTTP, RTTP, XML, HTML,
dHTML, VRML, ASP, as well as image, audio, or video formats etc. However,
using the teachings provided herein, it will be understood by those of
skill in the art that the methods and apparatus of the present invention
could be advantageously used in other related situations where users
access content over a communication channel, such as modem access
systems, institution network systems, wireless systems, etc.

[0089] Specific embodiments according to the invention address three
aspects related to on-line shopping:

1-The need for an improved sophisticated graphical platform (map/model)
for demand and supply information. 2-The need for an improved graphical
tools that promote price and choice transparency. 3-The need for
efficient communication methods/tools (related to future demand) within
end-consumers and the supply chain agents, which enables the creation of
future demand transparency and its benefits, such as improved/customized
offers to consumers and better demand-driven marketing processes (like
segmentation, targeting and customization) for supply chain agents.

[0091] Generally speaking maps and models are representations (or
approximations) of reality that emphasizes some features at expense of
others. For thousands of years, people have been creating maps and models
to represent landscapes, objects, events and concepts.

[0092] Maps also provide a common conceptual frame of reference. For
example, when someone talks about the Earth, people readily picture the
globe or the commonly used Mercator projection of 1569 (world map). The
same associated "picture of the thing or process" comes in mind when the
subject is the solar system, the DNA, the cycle of water, the supply and
demand curve, cash flow (spreadsheets) and so on. However there are some
things and processes, such as the universe or cyberspace, for which
effective maps and models are either fragmented, incomplete or
inexistent.

[0093] When people talk about different aspects of the dynamics of demand
and supply, and related information such as the shopping process of
selecting items, prices and options; as well as the analysis of the past
sales and future forecasts information from relational and OLAP databases
(business intelligence), they rarely have the same picture of the process
(common conceptual frame of reference) in their minds. There is still no
integrated graphical platform; a map/model that represents past, current
and forecast sales, product/services offers and future demand (as DIBs);
that are commonly used among consumers' web applications (like shopping
tools) and enterprise applications (like business intelligence-BI,
enterprise resource management-ERP, supply chain management-SCM and
customer relationship management-CRM).

[0094] The present invention is involved with a map/model that can
integrate and easily represent meaningful aspects of the demand and
supply dynamics, creating a common conceptual frame of reference between
its agents (mainly among consumers and the supply chain stakeholders), so
to improve their communication, decision-making and results.

[0096] Traditionally the task of shopping and researching for the best
choices of products and offers was time consuming and cumbersome. In the
last decade, with the advance of the Internet, the proliferation of
retailers on-line as well as shopping agents/price comparison engines,
consumers have had access to an unprecedented amount of information about
product choices and offers prices. This revolution of price transparency
for consumers is reaching a ceiling, where the problem is not the
available amount of information, but the medium where the information
will be presented; in this case the medium format (the lists) becomes a
bottleneck Most product search websites on the Internet, say e-retailers
(like Amazon) and price comparison engines (like shopping.com) have
list-based format, where the presented items are listed and viewed either
in the format of rows, grid or tables. Normally these lists-based
services show less than twenty detailed results per page. Because the
results or options from a given search are numerous, in theory users
would need to browse dozens of pages to see all alternatives; and even if
the user does that, in the end he or she would not be able to recall the
relationship of prices and features within all options. In practice the
sequence of the lists (the first items) matters the most because usually
users limit their search for a few pages, so the 40 first items of the
list get most attention in the expense of the others items.

[0097] Graphics are well known tools able to display large amounts of
information into a limited amount of space. A graphical map/model able to
represent all list of products of a specific category at once, would not
just overcome the lists-based lack of space bottleneck, but also would
give users a model (common conceptual frame of reference) of "what is the
picture" (the conformation) of all options of products from a specific
category (like digital cameras) if they are put together.

[0098] The problem then turns to be: What would be the graphical model
that efficiently represents (at once) all options of products from a
specific category. Examples of application of this concept (that somehow
answer this question) are almost non-existent, most retailers and price
comparison engines are locked at the list-based format premise. One known
counter example discusses the application of tree maps for product
browsing. The visual display of a tree map comprises a space that is
divided into multiple rectangular regions, whereby each region is
assigned to a different product. The arrangement of rectangles, sizes,
and color represent attributes of the data. The example FIG. 1 shows a
screenshot of a tree map produced by the Honeycomb technology (offered by
the company The Hive Group). The example arranged data provided by Amazon
(www(.)amazon(.)com), related to digital cameras from 4 to 4.9
megapixels; where the diagram shows groups of cameras by manufacture, the
size of rectangles means the price at Amazon and the color represents
sales rank

[0099] FIG. 2 shows a screenshot of the same tree map, when the user
selects one specific product (represented by the rectangle), an
additional panel pups-up over the tree map panel, displaying detailed
information about that selected product. Despite the ability of tree maps
to overcome the lists-based (lack of space) bottleneck, it is still not
satisfactory for product comparison. The tree map model has two main
disadvantages for product comparison. First, it is not easy to clearly
distinguish prices because rectangles are not displayed into an axis (so
that different product prices, or price variations, can be compared in
parallel side-by-side); in the tree map model prices can be displayed as
different groups, and/or the size of rectangle (which can produce
confusion once the rectangles doesn't have the exact same shape) and/or
colors. Second, the model is not properly fitted to show price
variations, if each product has a price variation (as it happens in price
comparison engines), the rectangles size can't be used to represent
product price, and using groups and/or color to discern product price
variation would be confusing. Another limitation of the current
application of tree maps for product comparison is that they neither
co-exist nor interact with the related lists of products; it will become
evident at the description of the invention that the list of products and
the graphical model of all products are complementary entities, and
should interact with each other.

[0100] One graphic model where prices are clearly displayed as a y-axis is
the classical stock market chart, where the x-axis is time, and the price
variation of the stock is represented by a bar or line, so that several
bars are displayed side-by-side in chronological order. Those types of
charts generally are not used to compare different stocks, but to access
the performance and trends of one stock over time, so the charts do not
suggest that the parallel arrangement of price variation bars into a
increasing or decreasing pattern (arranged by product sophistication)
could be used as the basis for a product price comparison tool.
Typically, prior systems suggest that different entities (like different
products) should be compared by methods like the tree map. An exemplary
model that uses this premise, is Smart Money's patent, U.S. Pat. No.
6,583,794, where a tree map is used to compare different companies'
stocks, in this case each rectangle means a company; the rectangles are
divided by sector (like software), where the size each rectangle means
the company's market capitalization, and the color represent
characteristics of the company (like its market performance).

[0101] Another problem consumers have while they are shopping is the lack
of choice transparency. It is still time consuming to compare the offers
options and trade-offs of one product, like what are the delivery or
pick-up, extended warranty and guarantee satisfaction choices and the
combinations of it. Most of e-retailers and price comparison engines
usually show only the standard 4 to 7 days delivery option to consumers,
and any other choice need to be researched case by case. There is the
need of a graphical shopping tool that not only enable the consumer (in a
simple and easy way) to compare all product choices, but also to compare
(graphically) all choices of offers and deals of one selected product.

[0103] Traditionally the lack of communication among end-consumers and
supply chain agents (like retailers and manufacturers) makes it difficult
to supply chain agents to forecast future demand as well as to create a
better variety and more customized set of offers to consumers. Consumers
are used to have immediate availability of products, buying without
notice in advance; while sellers at the other hand, need to anticipate
(making forecasts) when, where, and which products need to be "ready" for
consumers. While the assumption that products need to be always ready at
shelves (otherwise the seller loose the sell) is true for cheap items,
where no one wants to plan in advance to buy sodas; the assumption is
wrong for more expensive items (like TVs), where usually buyers do not
have urgency to acquire the product and may, plan in advance and spend
time shopping for different choices. With the presence of retailers on
the Internet and the proliferation of price comparison engines, it is a
normal task for consumers to do their homework shopping (researching
options) on-line, even when they buy at off-line retail stores.

[0104] The problem is that even when consumers research options on-line in
advance, in the majority of cases, the consumers do not communicate to
the market their intention to buy in advance of their purchase. Assuming
the premise: intention to buy precedes actual purchase; it becomes clear
that the lack of consumers' intention to buy information at the
marketplace derives from the lack of appropriate communication
methods/tools. Particularly the lack of communication methods/tools that
systematically collects, preferably in large scale, the intention to buy
from consumers, being able to deliver this information in a timely manner
to influence the decision-making of supply chain agents, so they could
provide a better variety, improved and customized offers to consumers.

[0105] According to specific embodiments of the invention, consumers' ads
or "declarations of intention to buy" are collected in a standard way, in
order to be structured into a graphical model, providing the basis to
make the declared-future demand (by region and time) of general and
specific products transparent (through graphics). In further embodiments,
the consumer's "declarations of intention to buy" are segmented, ranked
and graphically structured into a model (using analytical marketing
tools), so to provide to sellers marketing tools that allows searching
and targeting (with offers, deals and promotions) specific (micro) or
whole (macro) segments of consumers' declarations. And finally assuming a
world where prices for end-consumers are already semi-transparent
(through the actual price comparison engines for example), the present
invention further provides a method where consumers can receive better
variety/improved/customized offers on top of the already existing offers
by declaring intentions to buy in advance of purchases.

Example Advantages and Benefits of the Invention

[0106] In specific embodiments, the invention is involved with a graphical
platform (a map/model) for demand and supply information. For example,
according to the Demand and Supply Map (DS Map) conceptual model of the
invention, a graphical model maps/models several aspects of the demand
and supply dynamics at the different levels of the Earth's locations,
over time. The model represents the "somehow abstract" process of the
demand and supply dynamics, into a dynamic graphical structure (with
spatial form and dimensions related to the Earth's locations and
dimensions). One novel/non-obvious aspect of the invention is to provide
a common conceptual frame of reference ("the big picture") for the demand
and supply dynamics, integrating information with different dimensions
into one single dynamic spatial structure (called DS Map model). Examples
of these integrated dimensions are: spatial location, money (as past,
present and forecast sales), time, current products/offers types and
their prices, products being delivered/pick-up over time, the position of
consumers' avatars at their shopping process and consumer's future demand
(as declaration of intention to buy-DIBs). The different elements and
parts of the DS Map model (the ones described above) work together as a
system, to carry on the various processes of the demand and supply
dynamics.

[0107] The implementation of the whole DS Map model, or at least the
regional product shopping paths and the consumers' DIBs, at computer
systems/applications of enterprises and consumers
marketplaces/engines/portals, have the potential to provide unprecedented
levels of market transparency at the consumers' level (particularly for
products prices/options and declared-future demand). For enterprises, the
potential of the DS Map model resides at enterprise and marketing
decision-making, by allowing the integration and cross-relation of their
enterprise information (such as past, present and forecast sales) with
the invention's graphical price comparison (product shopping paths) and
declared-future demand (customers' DIBs) information.

[0108] In further embodiments, the invention provides efficient graphical
tools that promote price and choice transparency. Important components of
the DS Map model are the city's shopping path model (which will be
described later) and the product shopping path model. The product
Shopping Path is the graphical model used by this invention to
efficiently represent all options of products' offers from a product
category (like digital cameras). In one example, the model shows prices
as a y-axis; and groups of product offers (from different products of the
same category) are arranged side-by-side in the x-axis, where each
product offer is represented by a rectangle, which is positioned at the
y-axis according to its price. Assuming a city (like San Francisco) and a
product category (like digital cameras), when the group of offers of each
product of that product category are arranged side-by-side in order of
sophistication/price, a graphical structure with a fixed pattern will be
formed; and this graphical structure is called product Shopping Path (the
San Francisco's digital cameras shopping path).

[0109] The invention proposes a graphical user interface for an efficient
navigation of a city's product shopping path. By presenting the graphical
tool by two different panels, one panel showing a city's product shopping
path, and the other panel showing a product's offers information; users
can easily navigate within all available options at once by selecting
different products and different offers.

[0110] This shopping tool graphical user interface model is very efficient
to product and offers price comparison, and particularly more efficient
that the tree map model. First, because price is displayed on one clear
axis of the panel (e.g., the y-axis) of the panel, and the group of
product's offers are displayed side-by-side in increasing order of
sophistication/price (e.g., into the x-axis); the price comparison become
not just clear and precise, but its intrinsic logic is very easy and fast
to grasp. Second, the side-by-side placement of product's offers allows
the precise notion of what products can be purchase with the same amount
of money. Third, this graphical interface makes the all products' prices
(from product category like digital cameras) and all different types of
offers (of a selected product), easily recognizable at once. Fourth, if
the presented graphical tool is placed above a list of product, the
graphical tool and the lists become interactive, so that the manipulation
of the graphics can change the list, and the scrolling up/down of the
list affect the graphical tool.

[0111] By combining the easy comparison features described above with
zooming, filtering, coloring and division by category features; users
using this graphical tool would have access to an unprecedented level of
products/offers price and choice transparency. More specifically these
additional tools allows users to zoom in and out at selected products and
offers, to select the desired product features and offers types
(filtering the irrelevant ones), to ad different color to different types
of offers, to divide the group of products' offers by different
categories (such as by manufacture or by selected features) and to divide
the different groups of offers of one selected product by different
categories (such as by pick-up/delivery date or by warranty).

[0112] In further embodiments, the invention provides an efficient
communication method/tool (related to future demand) within end-consumers
and the supply chain agents, which enables the creation of future demand
transparency and it benefits, such as improved/customized offers to
consumers and better demand-driven marketing processes (like
segmentation, targeting and customization) for supply chain agents.

[0113] In an example DS/SP Map model, a DIB® space (as in FIG. 4) is
displayed above each regional shopping path. DIB® space is the
location where the consumers' Declarations Of Intentions To Buy®
(DIBs®) are located in the model. At the DS/SP Map model, consumers
declare their intention to buy in order to improve/customized the
available/existing offers related to the products they want. The DS Map
computer system receives the consumers' DIB and plots them into the DS
Map model. By having access to the DIB information, supply chain
stakeholders would use analytical software to see and analyze
(graphically) the regional DIBs, selecting general or specific segments
of DIBs, targeting those selected DIB segments with improved/customized
offers, and sending those offers only to the customers that belongs to
the selected DIB segments.

[0114] By using the premise that intention to buy precedes actual
purchase, a computer system (according to specific embodiments of the
invention) that collects and makes regional consumers declarations to buy
(DIBs) of a general and/or specific product transparent through graphics
and an user interface, is the same to say that the system is making part
of the future demand (for that general and/or specific product) of that
regions transparent. Thus, the present invention uses the DS Map model to
enable future demand transparency or, declared-future demand
transparency.

[0115] The DS Map system can be implemented in network hubs/portals where
end-consumers are present, such as search engines, price comparison
engines, and e-commerce websites; so those entities can serve as DIB
collectors and distributors. By doing that, network hubs/portals have the
financial incentive related to profit from DIB related ads, for example.

[0116] The invention allows DIBs to self-segment themselves (using
analytical tools), so supply chain stakeholders would be able to target
specific (micro) or whole (macro) segments of consumers' declarations.
Consumers for the other hand would be able to compare graphically (at the
product shopping path) the previously available offers and the DIB
improved/customized ones, picking the offer that best fit his or her
needs.

[0117] By allowing the supply chain stakeholders' data mining and business
intelligence tools (that are applied to their past and forecast sales
information) to handle DIBs (potential future demand declared by
customers), supply chain stakeholders are able to collaborate this
"intelligent-DIB information" within different departments through
different enterprise applications (like CRM, SCM and ERM) not only to
create improved/ customized offers to consumers, but also to potentially
improve a series of decision-making processes that are directly related
to sales forecasts and end-consumers demand.

[0118] The combination of an end-consumers graphical shopping model, with
a computer system that provides declared-future demand transparency,
declared-demand-driven segmentation and targeting tools, makes the DS Map
model a practicable graphical platform that can boost the realization of
some technology trends, such as the following
computer-assisted-processes: demand self-segmentation, mass
customization, mass-built-to-order, micro-marketing and marketing
automation.

[0119] It is important to make the discernment within the invention DIB
process and the RFP; while at RFP method buyers are requesting for
proposals, in the DIB process, the sellers' offers and prices are already
in place (it assumes initial price transparency, provided by price
comparison engines for example), when consumers DIB, they are requesting
improved/customized offers on top of the existing ones. Furthermore,
although the invention's DIB process and the declaration of intent to
purchase of Landesmann have similarities both in the name and at the
consumer declaration phase, their processes neither emulate each other
nor produce the same result. It will be apparent at description of the
invention; both methods can be perfectly complementary, once the
distinction of the consumers with higher likelihood of purchase would add
an extra layer to the segmentation and targeting process provided by this
invention.

[0120] Software Implementations

[0121] Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and/or
systems for improved shopping experiences and collection of customer date
that can be implemented on a general purpose or special purpose
information handling appliance using a suitable programming language such
as Java, C++, Cobol, C, Pascal, Fortran., PL1, LISP, assembly, etc., and
any suitable data or formatting specifications, such as HTML, XML, dHTML,
TIFF, JPEG, tab-delimited text, binary, etc. In the interest of clarity,
not all features of an actual implementation are described in this
specification. It will be understood that in the development of any such
actual implementation (as in any software development project), numerous
implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers'
specific goals and subgoals, such as compliance with system-related
and/or business-related constraints, which will vary from one
implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a
development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would
nevertheless be a routine undertaking of software engineering for those
of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0122] Other Features & Benefits

[0123] The invention and various specific aspects and embodiments will be
better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed
descriptions. For purposes of clarity, this discussion refers to devices,
methods, and concepts in terms of specific examples. However, the
invention and aspects thereof may have applications to a variety of types
of devices and systems. It is therefore intended that the invention not
be limited except as provided in the attached claims and equivalents.

[0124] Furthermore, it is well known in the art that logic systems and
methods such as described herein can include a variety of different
components and different functions in a modular fashion. Different
embodiments of the invention can include different mixtures of elements
and functions and may group various functions as parts of various
elements. For purposes of clarity, the invention is described in terms of
systems that include many different innovative components and innovative
combinations of innovative components and known components. No inference
should be taken to limit the invention to combinations containing all of
the innovative components listed in any illustrative embodiment in this
specification.

[0125] In some of the drawings and detailed descriptions below, the
present invention is described in terms of the important independent
embodiment of a system operating on a digital data network This should
not be taken to limit the invention, which, using the teachings provided
herein, can be applied to other situations, such as cable television
networks, wireless networks, etc. Furthermore, in some aspects, the
present invention is described in terms of client/server systems. A
number of computing systems and computing architectures are described in
the art as client/server art. For the purposes of this description,
client/server should be understood to include any architecture or
configuration wherein an element acting as a client accesses a remote
and/or separate program or device that is providing the desired service
(e.g., a server).

[0126] All references, publications, patents, and patent applications
cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for
all purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0127] The present invention provides methods and apparatus to model and
represent graphically the dynamics of demand and supply information,
through the application of the demand and supply map/shopping path
models. In one embodiment of the presented invention, a networked hub at
the Internet (such as e-retailer, a search or price comparison engine)
runs a DS/SP model software system, which can graphically represent part
or all of network information into the dynamic DS/SP model. The DS/SP
model software system provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that
includes a number of features for navigation, selection, categorizing,
filtering and zooming information displayed according to the DS/SP model.
In one embodiment, the GUI provides functionality as a shopping tool for
consumers, and a marketing tool for sellers. In one embodiment, the DS/SP
model software system allows consumers to declare their intention to buy
(DIB), inputting the DIBs information into the DS/SP model. The result is
that sellers gain declared demand information of the market and a
segmentation/targeting tool, as the same time consumers gain a mechanism
that help to create improved/customized deals for them.

[0128] Although the present invention is deployed with certain system
architecture with certain data processes, it will be appreciated that the
invention may also be used in a variety of environments, with various
types of data processing systems having a number of different types of
architectures. And although the present invention is described into an
e-commerce context (at e-retailers websites or price comparison engines),
and as a system that provides shopping tools for consumers and marketing
tools for sellers; it will be appreciated that the invention (the DS/SP
model and the DIB process) may also be used in conjunction with other
enterprise applications (such as business intelligence-BI, enterprise
resource management-ERP, supply chain management-SCM and customer
relationship management-CRM), and with various types of functions (like
non-e-commerce functions at enterprises or academic and governmental
purposes). Thus, the invention should not be limited to the systems,
architectures, and e-commerce purposes disclosed herein, which are meant
only to provide an understanding of the invention, whose scope is defined
by the claims which follow.

[0129] The Demand and Supply Map (DS Map) and the Shopping Path model

[0130] FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 exemplify and explain the demand and supply map
(DS Map) model and the shopping path model. FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 do not show
details about the models spatial form, proportions and dimensions, which
are related to the Earth's locations/dimensions, time and money. The DS
map and Shopping Path models spatial form, proportions and dimensions are
detailed at the appendix of this patent file.

[0131] FIG. 4 shows the types of information that can be displayed at the
dynamic spatial structure of a San Francisco Shopping Path. The model can
integrate the following information: (A) Geographical location, (B)
Commodity or Product rows displayed at a time axis, (C) Past and actual
Sales (as money units), (D) Sales Forecast (as money units), (E) Declared
Future Demand as DIBs, (F) Flow of products being acquired by consumers
(either pick up or delivery) over time, (G) The regional shopping path,
(H) Product Shopping Paths (as prices), (I) The specific offers for the
products offered at that region (as prices), (J) The position of
consumers at their shopping process (represented at the shopping path),
and (L) the geographic location and number of actual product inventory.

[0132] FIG. 5 to FIG. 10 are shown only for purposes of illustration of
the DS/SP model dynamics. In particular, these figures explain/illustrate
the position of users/consumers at their regional shopping path; which is
a graphical representation of the position users/consumers are at their
on-line shopping process. These figures doesn't illustrate the GUI
provided by the invention's tools; or the experience consumer have, while
they proceed at their shopping processes.

[0133] FIG. 5 illustrates several screenshots of an animation where, for
purposes of illustration, a user avatar (a graphical image of a user)
goes through the shopping process of searching for the offers of a
specific digital camera. First the user avatar selects its location,
going on the direction and entering the San Francisco shopping path (at
screenshot 5.1), then it selects a product category, going on the
direction of the digital cameras shopping path (at screenshot 5.2), then
it selects the desired product (at screenshot 5.3), going on the
direction of the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera group of
offers (at screenshot 5.4), and then it reaches the group of offers for
that digital camera, comparing the available offers (at screenshot 5.5).

[0134] FIG. 6 exemplifies and explains the shopping path model. FIG. 7a
explains the X, Y and Z position of a user-avatar in an example of a
regional product shopping path. FIG. 7b illustrates a user-avatar at the
beginning of the shopping process of a product category (such as digital
cameras) considering all available products; X corresponds to the
distance of all available digital cameras and X/2 is the user-avatar X
position; Y corresponds to the distance (price range) of all offers and
Y/2 ($1487.5) is the user-avatar Y position; Z corresponds to the number
of product being considered (356 products) so 356 is the user-avatar Z
position. FIG. 7c to FIG. 7e illustrates that as the user keeps selecting
product and offers features (during its shopping process), the number of
product options (and their distance at the product shopping path) as well
as the price range of offers keeps decreasing, until the user-avatar
selects/considers only one product (at FIG. 7e), where X is the location
of the considered product (its group of offers) at the regional product
shopping path, Z is 1 and Y is $ 106 ($481-$269/2).

[0135] FIG. 8a illustrates the shopping process of a consumer at a
product-shopping path. FIG. 8b presents the same example shown in FIG.
8a, but also illustrating the process happening at the regional (San
Francisco) Shopping Path.

[0136] FIG. 9 presents a similar example shown on FIGS. 8a and 8b; where
the consumer in addition to compare her options of products, she declares
her intention to buy (DIB), in advance her purchase, to get
improved/customized deals.

[0137] FIG. 10 examples in another way the consumer comparing her options
of products and then declaring her intention to buy (DIB) to get
improved/customized deals.

[0138] 1. System Architecture Overview

[0139] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a network of computer systems in which
different types of data (including demand and supply information) is
processed, according to one example embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 11, a networked hub system 3 (such as e-retailer, search
engine or price comparison engine) connects through the Internet 0 to
several participants using computers running a browser, including
consumers' computers 1 and supply chain stakeholders computers 2 (such as
sellers, wholesalers and manufactures). The networked hub system 3
executes its functions, processing several types of data through a
network of computer systems, which may include Web-servers 10, E-commerce
servers 11, Database servers 12, databases at Data storage devises 13,
Data warehouses and/or OLAP systems 14 and Enterprise applications 17
(such as CRM, ERP, SCM).

[0140] A demand and supply map/shopping path model system (DS/SP model
system) 6, is installed at the networked hub system 3, and is composed by
several software modules, according to one embodiment of the present
invention. Network application program interface (API) 16, which can be
provided by the networked hub 3, and DS/SP model application program
interface (API) 800 are used to communicate and collect information from
databases 13 and data warehouse 14 to DS/SP model system 6 databases,
which are going to be named further. DS/SP-API 800 communicates and
distributes the information (collected from the networked hub) among
regional shopping paths module 300, DIB process module 400, SP news
module 500, SP Live module 600, SP Ads module 700 and DS Map graphical
module 800, where each of these modules may be responsible for a separate
set of well-defined tasks. Each of these modules may also interact and
communicate between each other. DS/SP model-tool Server 200 communicates
and collects information from the DS/SP system modules described above
(300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800), communicating and sending requested
information to Web-servers 100 and enterprise applications 17. DS/SP
model-tool Server 200 also interacts with e-mail server 15. Html
Code/call GUI module 100 is installed at web-server 10, which interacts
with DS/SP model-tool Server 200. Details about the data processes of
each mentioned DS/SP module are further presented in this document.

[0141]FIG. 12 is a diagram that illustrates the different software
components of DS/SP modules. Details of the data processes of each
software component shown in FIG. 12 are further presented at the
explanations of each DS/SP module. In one particular embodiment of this
invention the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 is a Java application server
that has a Flex Presentation server, from Macromedia Inc.
(www(.)macromedia(.)com) deployed on it. In this particular embodiment
the application that executes the Shopping Path tool process 201 and the
Marketing Shopping Path tool process 250 shown in FIG. 12, is a Flex
application. The Flex Presentation server uses Java objects and
WebServices to access data on remote systems. So in this particular
embodiment the communication between the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 and
the others DS/SP system modules (300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800), and
the communication among those DS/SP system modules, including the
DS/SP-API 800 take place using Java objects and/or WebServices. In
another particular embodiment of this invention the DS/SP model-tool
Server 200 is a Java application server that has a open-Laszlos server,
from Laszlos Inc.

[0142] (www(.)laszlos(.)com) deployed on it. In this particular embodiment
the application that executes the Shopping Path tool process 201 and the
Marketing Shopping Path tool process 250 shown in FIG. 12, is a
open-Laszlos application.

[0143] 2. Overview of an Example Shopping Path Tool

[0144] According to one embodiment of this invention, a DS/SP model system
is deployed to support e-commerce functions at networked hub systems
(such as e-retailers or price comparison engines), providing supporting
shopping tools for consumers and marketing tools for sellers. In one
embodiment, a networked hub website (such as e-retailers or price
comparison engines) displays an interactive shopping tool (that can be
deployed either in Java, Macromedia's Flash or AJAX-Asynchronous
JavaScript+XML) inserted at the HTML website's list of products.
Consumers accesses and uses the networked hub's website, navigating over
the lists of products as they are used to, and if they wish they are able
to use the interactive shopping tool. When a user opens the interactive
shopping tool, he or she no longer needs evaluate their product options
by going through several pages, they just interact with the product
shopping path, comparing the price variation of all options of available
products (of a certain product category) at a glance. The interactive
tool visually displays all product options together making the
comparison, of what products (from simpler to more sophisticated
products) can be bought for the same amount of money, immediate. The
shopping tool allows users to see (at a glance) what is the price
position of a specific offer (for a specific product) in comparison with
all offers for the same product, and in comparison to all offers for all
available products (that belong to the same category). The shopping
process becomes more efficient, and the price comparison much faster,
clear and precise.

[0145] The presented embodiment of the invention allows networked hubs
websites to offer the interactive shopping tool to their users without
drastic changes in their website layout, providing a seamless integration
of the traditional comparison method (the lists of products) users are
already familiar, with the new graphical price comparison method.

[0146] In one embodiment of the present invention, an animated assistant
or host avatar (e.g., the SP mascot 2626) is displayed along the shopping
path tool, so that the SP mascot 2626 can assist users (if they wish)
with explanations and tips about the shopping path tool, while they
proceed at their shopping process. The prior art of the deployment of
application assistants (like the office assistant from Microsoft
Corporation, for example) are well know in the computer field, so it will
not be detailed at this discussion.

[0147]FIG. 13 illustrates an example graphical interface, and in
particular, an Internet browser (Mozilla-Firefox) with a display window
2000, where an interactive graphical shopping/price comparison tool 2002
(called shopping path tool) is located above a list of products 2001 (a
list of digital cameras) provided by a networked hub website (such as
e-retailers or price comparison engines) The shopping path tool 2002 can
include a standard Minimize button and standard Maximize button. The
shopping path tool 2002 is shown at FIG. 13 at its most contracted form,
and as a user click the Maximize button, the tool expands its size to
showing a number of panels, control functions and displays.

[0148] The shopping path tool (that can be deployed either in Java,
Macromedia's Flash or AJAX-Asynchronous JavaScript+XML) is a Rich
Internet Application that is displayed inside one interactive row
(SP-tool row) displayed among other rows that compose the HTML website's
list of products. FIG. 14 shows a block diagram that illustrates said
SP-tool row 2003 displayed above the rows (product-rows) that display the
website's list of products 2001. FIG. 15 shows the same block diagram
shown on FIG. 14, illustrating a SP-tool row expanding its height, moving
the product-rows downward the web page.

[0149] FIG. 16 to FIG. 18 illustrate the SP-tool row expanding its height
to accommodate the shopping path tool different panels and control
functions. FIG. 16 illustrates the SP-tool row with a shopping path tool
at its most contracted form inside it. FIG. 17 illustrates an expanded
SP-tool row with a shopping path tool displaying its main control
functions, which includes Shop (for shopping), DIB (for declaring the
intention to buy), News (for products and offers news/reports), Live (for
three dimensional navigation and live chatting at regional shopping
paths) and Privacy settings (to manage privacy issues). As it shown in
FIG. 17, the Shop control function is selected, displaying its related
panels; say the Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel, Interactive
Shopping Path panel and Product panel Product Panel(shown as Product
Panel). FIG. 18 shows a similar example shown on FIG. 17, illustrating
two of its panels opened, particularly the Shopping Path panel 2004 and
Product panel 2005; which are going to be described in detail at the
following figures.

[0150] FIG. 19 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool, which displays products and
offers information. At the shopping path tool, the Shop control function
is selected, and the Shopping Path panel 2004 and Product panel 2005 are
opened. The Shopping Path panel 2004 displays an interactive
product-shopping path 2013 (the San Francisco's digital cameras shopping
path). The product-shopping path is a graphical pattern formed, (assuming
prices as y-axis and groups of offers for products as x-axis), when the
group of offers of each product of a product category is arranged
side-by-side in order of low to high end (or vice-versa); where (at the
distant view) the group of offers of each product is shown as a bar (a
product-bar) 2011, wherein the size of each product-bar 2011 corresponds
the price variation of the product offers. A product-selector 2012, that
is attached at a parallel-scroll button, recognizes the product-bar 2011
it touches, so when a user scroll the button either left or right, the
product-selector 2012 highlights the touched product-bar 2011, and
information (like product features and offers details) related to that
selected product is displayed at the Product panel 2005. The
product-selector 2012 highlights the product-bar 2011 by changing its
color, and increasing the distance from the bars of both sides (the group
of bars of both sides move sideways). When the product-bar 2011 is
highlighted, one specific offer related to that selected product (like
the lowest price, delivery four to seven days from a trusted store) is
highlighted, displayed as a small square over the product-bar 2011, at
its respective price position at the y-axis. A product-price bar 2014, is
displayed at the y-axis position where the specific offer is highlighted,
showing at its right end the price of said specific offer. The
product-price bar 2014 is attached at a vertical-scroll button, that also
recognizes the price at product-bar 2011 it touches; so when a user
scroll the button either up or down, the product-price bar 2014
highlights the touched price position at the product-bar 2011, and the
position of the deal is displayed at the offers panel 2006 and related
information (the offers details) is displayed at the specific offer panel
2007. In this particular case, shown at FIG. 19, the selected product-bar
2011 represents the price variation of the Canon Powershot A70 digital
camera.

[0151] The Product panel 2005 displays information (like product features
and offers details) related to the selected product (product-bar 2011),
in this particular case the Canon Powershot A70 digital camera. The panel
2005 displays at its right side product information like name, product
features and price variation. Two additional panels are displayed at the
left side of the Product Panel 2005, particularly the Offers panel 2006,
and the specific offer panel 2007. The Offers panel 2006 displays in more
detail the offers of the selected product (product-bar 2011), in this
case, it shows the variety of offers for the Canon Powershot A70 digital
camera. Similar to the Shopping Path panel 2004, the Offers panel 2006
has prices as y-axis and groups of offers for products as x axis; where
groups of categories of offers are arranged side-by-side; where the group
of offers of each offer category is shown as a bar, wherein the size of
each bar corresponds the price variation of the offer category; in this
particular case, the bars (offers category) are arranged by
pick-up/delivery date (when the consumers get the product). One offer
category (like four to seven days pick-up/delivery) is highlighted,
displaying/representing its specific offers by objects, like squares or
rectangles, displayed side-by-side, either at increasing or decreasing
order. The size of each one of these squares is automatically adjusted to
fit all displayed offers at the designated category space at the offers
panel 2006. In the particular example shown at FIG. 19, the group of
offers 2015 (displayed side-by-side) are so small that they look like a
continuous line. One specific offer 2016 is highlighted, (the lowest
price, delivery four to seven days from a trusted store), by increasing
the size of its square and changing its color. A offer-selector 2017,
that is attached at a parallel-scroll button, recognizes the offer square
it touches, so when a user scroll the button either left or right, the
offer-selector 2017 highlights the touched offer square, and the
information (offers details) related to the selected offer is displayed
at the specific-offer panel 2007. The specific-offer panel 2007 displays
specific information about the highlighted specific offer, such as the
name of vendor, the vendor rating, characteristics of the offer and its
price. An offer-price bar 2018, is displayed at the y-axis position where
specific offer is highlighted, showing, at its right end, the price of
that specific offer. Notice that the same offer highlighted at Shopping
Path panel 2004, is also highlighted at the Offers panel 2006, and
detailed at specific-offer panel 2007;

[0152] in this particular case, the highlighted offer is provided by B&H
Photo, offering a Canon Powershot A70 digital camera, to be delivered (at
San Francisco, Calif.) within 4 to 7 days at $306.26.

[0153] FIG. 20 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a user scrolling the product-selector 2012 to the right
side, until it reaches the product-bar representing the Creative CamCard
Value Digital Camera. This example screenshot follows the example of FIG.
19, illustrating a user selecting products, by scrolling the
product-selector. Notice that, in this particular case, the Shopping Path
tool is set up to automatically show the lowest price, delivery four to
seven days from a trusted store (the $31.99 offer); where the selected
offers is depicted at the Shopping Path panel, the Offers panel and the
specific-offer panel.

[0154] FIG. 21 to FIG. 23 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing a user selecting different offers for the
same product, by scrolling right or left the offer-selector. FIG. 21
illustrates an example screenshots of an example graphical interface
showing a Product panel, which displays product and offers information
about the (assumed) selected product (Nikon CoolPix 3100 Digital Camera).
FIG. 22 follows the example shown on FIG. 21, illustrating a user
selecting a different offer for the same product, by scrolling left the
offer-selector until it reaches the offer with lowest price from its
offer category (4 to 7 days pick-up/delivery category). FIG. 23 follows
the example shown on FIG. 22, illustrating a user selecting a different
offer for the same product, by scrolling left the offer-selector to a
different offer category (particularly the today pick-up/delivery
category). When a user scrolls right or left the offer-selector selecting
another offer category, the offers squares of the previously highlighted
offer category contract into a bar and its designated space also
contracts; while the designated space of the newly selected offer
category expands and its offer bar expands into offers squares. FIG. 23
illustrates that the designated space and offers squares of the 4 to 7
days offer category contracted, and the designated space and offers
squares of the today offer category expanded.

[0155] FIG. 24 to FIG. 27 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing different modes of how the shopping path tool
(located above a list of products) can interact with the list of
products, when a user scrolls down/up the browser scroll button. FIG. 24
illustrates an example screenshots of an example graphical interface
showing a shopping path tool displaying product and offers information of
a specific product, particularly the Creative CamCard Value Digital
Camera. Notice that there is a list of products below the shopping path
tool, and the first displayed product (at its product-row) is the Canon
Powershot A70 digital camera.

[0156]FIG. 25 follows the example shown on FIG. 24, illustrating that as
the user scroll down, and the top-rows of the list of products goes up,
the shopping path tool recognized that Canon Powershot A70 digital camera
information was displayed at the product-row (of the list of products)
that touched the bottom of the SP-tool row, so that the shopping path
tool displays at its opened panels, say the Shopping Path panel and the
Product Panel, product and offers information related to Canon Powershot
A70 digital camera.

[0157] As the user scrolls down, the SP-tool row (and the shopping path
tool) remains at the top of the page, so as the product or item displayed
at the top-row of the list of products touches the bottom of the SP-tool
row, the SP-tool row in combination with the shopping path tool
recognizes the product information displayed at that top-row, displaying
information about the selected product (at the opened panels of the
shopping path tool). The same action happens when the user is scrolling
up, as the top-rows of the list of products go down, one-by-one, they
touch the bottom of the SP-tool row, then the shopping path tool
recognize it one-by-one, displaying information about the selected
product at its opened panels. Notice that if no panel of the shopping
path is open, even thought the SP-tool row and the shopping path tool
remains at the top of the page and recognize the product row it is
touching the bottom of the SP-tool row, nothing will change from the
familiar scroll drown of lists, because (as the panels are closed) no
graphical information is displayed. In one embodiment of invention
networked hubs insert a product-marker (such as a transparent Flash
object) inside each product row of its list of products, along with their
product information such as description and picture. When the user
scrolls up or down, the shopping path tool (flash application) recognizes
the product-marker (the transparent Flash object) that is touching the
shopping path tool, displaying that product's information on its opened
panels.

[0158] FIG. 26 follows the example shown on FIG. 25, illustrating a user
minimizing the Product Panel, so that the SP-tool row and the shopping
path tool recognize the product at the top-row of the list, which is
touching the bottom of the SP-tool row, embracing the top-row with a
colored square or rectangle 2019, and showing the position of that
selected product at the interactive shopping path displayed at the opened
Shopping Path panel. In the particular case, the embraced row is related
to the Canon Powershot A70 digital camera. If the user keeps scrolling
down one more row, for example, the Nikon Coolpix 3100 digital camera row
would be embraced, and the position of this product at the shopping path
panel would be highlighted.

[0159] FIG. 27 follows the example shown on FIG. 25, illustrating a user
minimizing the Shopping Path panel, so that the SP-tool row and the
shopping path tool recognize the product at the top-row of the list,
which is touching the bottom of the SP-tool row, displaying at the
Product Panel information related to Canon Powershot A70 digital camera.
If the user keeps scrolling down one more row, for example, information
about the Nikon Coolpix 3100 digital camera would be displayed at the
Product Panel.

[0160] FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing a control function (a button) that allows
users to compare a specific product with only products with similar
features. FIG. 28 illustrates an example screenshot of an example
graphical interface showing the shopping path tool displaying product and
offers information of a specific product, particularly the Canon Digital
Rebel/EOS 300D Digital Camera. FIG. 29 follows the example shown on FIG.
28, illustrating a user clicking at the compare similar products button,
so that only the product-bars representing products with similar features
of the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS 300D Digital Camera remain displayed at
the shopping path panel.

[0161] FIG. 30 to FIG. 33 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing that product-bars at the shopping path panel
can be displayed into different modes and into different categorizations.
FIG. 30 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing the show me drop down menu, which determines that the
product-bars are arranged according the product shopping path model. FIG.
31 follows the example shown on FIG. 30, illustrating a user selecting
show me drop down menu to arrange the product-bars by feature,
particularly the cameras mega-pixels. FIG. 32 follows the example shown
on FIG. 30, illustrating a user selecting show me drop down menu to
arrange the product-bars by brand. FIG. 33a follows the example shown on
FIG. 30, illustrating a user selecting show me drop down menu to arrange
the product-bars by users types. Notice that even though the product-bars
can be displayed into different modes and into different categorizations
at the Shopping path panel, it is recommended that they should be
arranged by a method that provides a sense of either increasing or
decreasing order; otherwise the display gets confusing or unpleasing.
Because there is a direct relation between product price and product
sophistication, whichever the categorization the product-bars are
arranged, if they are either in increasing or decreasing order, users
immediately perceive a logical pattern within lower and higher end
products. FIG. 33b illustrates a pattern formed when the product-bars are
arranged by their popularity, from most to least popular products. The
pattern may provide some insight, however there is not immediate
recognizable pattern, which may be unpleasing for users. In this
particular case it is more appropriate to organize the product-bars into
either increasing or decreasing order, and arrange the list of products
according to product popularity; so users have the perspective of the
position of the most popular products (of the list) within the graphical
pattern of products from low to high sophistication.

[0162] FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing the Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel
functions, which allows users to filter and select product and offers
with features that fits their needs. FIG. 34 illustrates an example
screenshot of an example graphical interface showing the shopping path
tool displaying product and offers information of a specific product,
particularly the Canon Powershot A70 digital camera. The shopping path
tool has the Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel 2020 opened, showing
product and offers options that can be selected by users. A
chosen-features section 2021 shows what products and offers features
users selected. In this particular case, the user hasn't selected any
feature. FIG. 35 follows the example shown on FIG. 34, illustrating that
the user selected product and offers features at the
Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel 2020, and the selected features
are displayed at the chosen-features section 2021. Notice that only the
products that have the selected features remains displayed at the
shopping path panel.

[0163] The example screenshot shown of FIG. 35 has an animated host avatar
(the SP mascot 2626), which can assist users (if they wish) with
explanations and tips about the shopping path tool, while they proceed at
their shopping process.

[0164] FIG. 36 to FIG. 40 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing the zoom control function, which allows users
to magnify the products and offer graphical representations displayed at
the shopping path panel. FIG. 36 illustrates an example screenshot of an
example graphical interface showing a group of product bars displayed at
a shopping path panel. The interactive product-bars of FIG. 36 follows
the example shown on FIG. 35, where only products with the selected
features remains at the shopping path panel. FIG. 37 follows the example
shown on FIG. 36, illustrating a user clicking the zoom button, one
zoom-level above the previous one. The product-bars seem on FIG. 36 are
magnified and the y-axis (price) is adjusted. FIG. 38 follows the example
shown on FIG. 37, illustrating a user clicking the zoom button, one
zoom-level above the previous one. Each product-bar is substituted by its
respective group of offers, where each square represents a different
offer. FIG. 39 follows a similar (but different) example shown on FIG.
38, illustrating a user clicking the zoom button, one zoom-level above
shown in FIG. 38. The groups of offers of the selected product are
magnified, and only the surrounding products (the group of offers) are
shown together with the selected product. The y-axis (price) is also
adjusted. FIG. 40 follows the example shown on FIG. 39, illustrating a
user clicking the zoom button, one zoom-level above the previous one. The
groups of offers of the selected product are arranged and grouped into
categories, more particularly pick-up/delivery date categories.

[0165] FIG. 41 to FIG. 45 illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing that as a user selects offers features, the
size of the squares (representing the offers) automatically adjusts to
fit into its designated area, while keeping its respective position at
the y-axis. FIG. 41 illustrates an example screenshot of an example
graphical interface showing an offers panel displaying the variety of
offers of a product (product not shown). At this particular example, the
user haven't selected any offer feature, as show in the chosen-features
section 2021. FIG. 42 follows the example shown on FIG. 41, illustrating
a user selecting the offer feature "get it up to 15 days", so that offers
related to 30 and 90 days were excluded. FIG. 43 follows the example
shown on FIG. 42, illustrating a user selecting an additional offer
feature, the "minimum 3 start stores", notice that a few offers were
excluded, and the squares (representing the offers) at the Today section
automatically increased their size to fit its designated space. FIG. 44
follows the example shown on FIG. 43, illustrating a user selecting an
additional offer feature, the "1 year warranty", where a few offers were
excluded and the remaining squares at the Today section automatically
adjusted their size. FIG. 45 follows the example shown on FIG. 44,
illustrating a user selecting two additional offer features, the
"Customer service and No biding contracts", where a few offers were
excluded and the remaining squares at the Today section automatically
adjusted their size.

[0166] FIG. 46 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing the shopping path tool displaying (at the offers panel)
an extra layer of categorization for one selected offer category
displayed at the shopping path panel. As the user applied a large zoom at
the shopping path panel, the group of offers of the selected product
divides into categories, wherein one offer category is selected. The
offers panel then displays details of the selected offer category, being
able to add an extra layer of categorization to display/describe the
selected offer category. In this particular case, the shopping path panel
is displaying groups of offers related to different delivery/pick-up
dates for a Sharp LL171MU Television, where the Today offers category is
selected. The offers panel then displays details of only the Today offers
category, dividing the offers into DIB-related offers and Non-DIB
(public) related offers.

[0167]FIG. 47 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing an alternative embodiment where the networked hub added
a "See Variety of Deal" button at each row of its list of products. When
a user clicks the "See Variety of Deal" button a panel like the Product
Panel opens up at the place where the product row was located, so the
user can interact with it without open the shopping path tool. At another
embodiment (not shown) the networked hub displays buttons or links
related to the shopping path tool at each row of its list of product, so
different shopping path panels can be opened at the place where the
product row is located.

[0168] FIG. 48 to FIG. 48f illustrate examples screenshots of an example
graphical interface showing that the type of information and the format
in which the information is displayed at the shopping path tool can be
customized by the user. FIG. 48 illustrates an example screenshot of an
example graphical interface showing that the color, size and the position
of the shopping path tool panels are adjustable and can be customized by
the user. In this particular case, the user decreased the size of the
shopping path panel, added color to categorize its product end
categories, and placed the product features section (of Select/Filter
panel) at the side of the shopping path panel.

[0169] FIG. 48a illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing adjustments and customizations made by the user. In
this particular case, the user decreased the size of the shopping path
panel, added color to categorize its product end categories, and placed
the product features section (of Select/Filter panel) at the side of the
shopping path panel. Notice that the user also customized the offers
panel, determining that the offers from Amazon.com. ShoppingPath.com and
eBay.com would be placed side-by-side. The e-Bay offers and bids are
represented by squares; where the y-axis of each offer and bid represents
its price. The x-axis represents the time-line at e-Bay, where the
position of each offer or bid is determined by its future-time deadline
(when the offers or bid expires); wherein present-time (now) is
graphically static and future-time is graphically-dynamic, running
backwards until it reaches present-time. FIG. 48b illustrates an example
screenshot of an example graphical interface showing a customized offers
panel, wherein the user determined that the offers belonging to different
categories would be placed side-by-side (as squares not bars); and only
the offers with today delivery, today pick-up, delivery 4-7 days and
special offers would be displayed.

[0170] FIG. 48c illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing that the user customized the Shopping Path panel,
determining that small product pictures are placed above their respective
product-bars; and the selected product-bars (and a defined number of
product-bars close by the selected one) have their product-pictures
magnified. Notice that in order to magnify the product-pictures above the
selected product-bars, the space between the selected product-bars needs
also to be enlarged. In this particular example, the selected product-bar
has the most magnified product-picture, while the other two product-bars
of each side have, respectively, their product-picture less magnified. As
the user scrolls left or right the shopping path panel, selecting
different product-bars, the space between the product-bars as well as the
size of the product-pictures are dynamically rearranged.

[0171] FIG. 48d follows the example shown on FIG. 48c, illustrating that
the user determined that the small product pictures are placed at the
average price of their respective product-bars; and the selected
product-bars (and the product-bars close by the selected one) have their
product-pictures magnified above their respective product-bars.

[0172] FIG. 48e follows the example shown on FIG. 48d, illustrating that
the user determined that no product-bars are displayed, and only small
product pictures are displayed at their average price. The selected
product-pictures (and the pictures close by the selected one) have their
product-pictures magnified at the y-axis price position of their average
price. Notice that in this particular example, the user no longer
navigates price variations but product-pictures displayed at one price
point such as its average price.

[0173] FIG. 48f follows the example shown on FIG. 48e, illustrating that
the user determined that a map is displayed at the product panel, and
that map indicates the location of the stores, which have today pick-up
and delivery offers. As the user scrolls left or right the offers panel,
selecting different offers (represented by squares), the position of the
respective store is indicated at the map; conversely as the user selects
a store at the map, its respective offer (s) is indicated at the offers
panel and specific offers panel.

[0174] FIG. 49 to FIG. 55 show flow charts that represent one particular
method describing processes for implementing a GUI such as shown in FIG.
13 to FIG. 48f. In one particular embodiment of this invention a
networked hub website (such as e-retailers or price comparison engines)
displays an interactive shopping tool (a Rich Internet Application that
can be deployed in Java, Macromedia's Flash or AJAX) inserted at the HTML
website's list of products. The Shopping Path Tool process 201, located
at the DS/SP model-tool server 200 (of FIG. 12) collects at the DS/SP
system modules 300 to 700 the required information to feed an interactive
shopping path tool, sending to the computer of the user 1 (of FIG. 11) a
Rich Internet Application (running in Macromedia's Flash) that
graphically displays and interacts with said collected information. In
another particular embodiment of this invention said interactive shopping
tool (Rich Internet Application) runs as a Java applet or AJAX and not in
Macromedia's Flash as it was cited above. The presented embodiment
assumes that some requested information is already processed and stored
at the modules databases ("ready" to be accessed), and some information
will need to be processed on the fly by the modules 300 to 800, details
of each modules processes is described below.

[0175] FIG. 49 is a flow chart describing the Html-code/Call-GUI process
100 implemented at the networked hub web-server 10, shown in FIG. 11. As
illustrated in FIG. 49, the Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 is initiated
during step 102 when a user, while is browsing/searching the pages of the
networked hub website, requested a page that has a Shopping Path Tool.
While the web-server 10 is building the requested page, it places a
SP-tool row 2003 on the designated area of the page, during step 103.
Thereafter, the web-server 10 calls Shopping Path tool 201 process,
located at the DS/SP model-tool Server 200, requesting shopping path tool
information related to a specific product category (like digital
cameras), during step 104. Thereafter, the web-server 10 downloads the
page contents first, and then downloads Shopping Path Tool, during step
105. Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 terminates during step 106.

[0176]FIG. 50 is a flow chart describing the Shopping Path tool process
201, implemented at the DS/SP model-tool Server 200, shown in FIG. 12. As
illustrated in FIG. 50, the Shopping Path tool process 201 is initiated
during step 203 when Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 requests a Shopping
Path Tool (with information of a certain Product category like digital
cameras) to Shopping Path tool 201 process. A test is initially performed
during step 204 to determine if the user is already log-in. If it is
determined during step 204 that the user is already log-in, then DS/SP
model-tool Server 200 retrieves user location at user database (not show)
at the networked hub databases 13, and also retrieves DIB database 491
verifying if user DIB, during step 205. If it is determined at step 204
that the user is not log-in, the user is asked to log-in or input his or
her location (like the zip-code), during step 206. Then a further test is
performed at step 207, verifying if the user log-in. If the user log-in,
DS/SP model-tool Server 200 proceed to step 205, retrieving user location
at user database (not show) at the networked hub databases 13, and also
retrieving DIB database 491 verifying if user DIB.

[0177] If it is determined at step 207 that the user didn't log-in, then a
further test is performed at step 208, verifying if the user input his or
her location (like the zip-code); if the user didn't input his or her
location, the user is asked again to log-in or input his or her location,
at step 206. If the user input his or her location, then DS/SP model-tool
Server 200 requests the user's regional product shopping path information
to Regional SP 302, SP-news 502, SP-Live 602, Private Settings 650 and
SP-Ads 702 processes, at step 212. Thereafter DS/SP model-tool Server 200
received the related user's information from Regional SP 302, SP-news
502, SP-Live 602, Private Settings 650 and SP-Ads 702 processes,
arranging this information according to Shopping Path Tool template,
converting it into a macromedia flash's SWF file and sending it (the
Shopping Path Tool application plus the requested information) to the
user's computer, at step 213. Thereafter the user is interacting with the
shopping path tool at the web-browser on his/hers computer, during step
214.

[0179] A further test is performed at step 215, verifying if the user
requested information that was not previously loaded at the Shopping Path
Tool contents or added/edit information. If the user requested new
information or added/edit information, the DS/SP model-tool Server 200
requests information or added/edit information from the related software
component (either Regional SP 302, SP-news 502, SP-Live 602, SP Ads 702
and Private Settings 650); sending the received information to the user
computer's shopping path tool (browser-based application), at step 218.
Thereafter the user is interacting with the shopping path tool at the
web-browser on his/hers computer, during step 214. If the user didn't
request additional information at step 215, a further test is performed
at step 216, verifying if the user clicked/requested information about a
different product category. If the user requested information about a
different product category, DS/SP model-tool Server 200 starts the
described process again, performing the process described at step 203. If
the user didn't requested information about a different product category,
DS/SP model-tool performs a further test, verifying if the user closed
the browser, during step 217. If the user closed the browser, Shopping
Path tool process 201 terminates during step 219. If the user didn't
close the browser, the user keeps interacting with the shopping path tool
at the web-browser on his/hers computer, during step 214.

[0180] In one particular embodiment of this invention the DS/SP model-tool
Server 200 is a Java application server that has a Flex Presentation
server, provided by Macromedia (www(.)macromedia(.)com), deployed on it.
In this particular embodiment the application that executes the Shopping
Path tool process 201 and the Marketing Shopping Path tool process 250,
is a Flex application. The Flex Presentation server uses Java objects and
WebServices to access data on remote systems. So in this particular
embodiment the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 communicates with the others
DS/SP system modules (300, 400, 500, 600 and 700) using Java objects
and/or WebServices. In another particular embodiment of this invention
the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 is a Java application server that has a
open-Laszlos server, from Laszlos Inc. (www(.)laszlos(.)com) deployed on
it. In this particular embodiment the application that executes the
Shopping Path tool process 201 and the Marketing Shopping Path tool
process 250 shown in FIG. 12, is an open-Laszlos application.

[0181]FIG. 51 is a flow chart describing the Regional-Product-SP process
302 implemented at the Shopping Paths server 301, shown in FIG. 12. As
illustrated in FIG. 51, the Regional-Product-SP process 302 is initiated
during step 303 when DS/SP model-tool Server 200 (shopping path tool
process 201) requests a regional product Shopping Path information to
Shopping Paths Server 312 (Regional SP 302 process). Thereafter, the
Shopping Paths server 301 access, through the Networked hub's API 16 and
the DS/SP's API 800, the network hub databases 13; selecting one product
category (like digital cameras), and collecting products information of
that product category, and the variety of deals of sellers for those
products, during step 304. Thereafter, the Shopping Paths server 301
selects or calculates an "attribute value" for each specific product of
that product category, during step 305. The attribute value of a specific
product is the value used to arrange the product bars into the product
shopping path pattern; by selecting or calculating an attribute value, it
is easy to arrange the product bars at increasing or decreasing order.
The networked hub determines this attribute value, which can be the
result of several references of the offers price, such as the lowest
price base for that product or the average price base. However it is
recommended to use formulations or algorithms to define the attribute
value, which reflect to whole configuration of offers-prices for the
product, such as the mean price base of the standard deviation curve or a
PERT price base value (Max.price+3most-probable-price+Min.price/6) from
all offers for that product. With the products' attribute-value defined,
the Shopping Paths server 301 arranges the sequence of the specific
product according to their "attribute value" (preferably in increasing
order), determining the Product Category Shopping Path model. Thereafter,
the Shopping Paths server 301 retrieves the sellers' options of offers
for each product of that product category (including their handling and
shipping fees) at the networked hub databases 13. Calculating the offers
value (for each product of that product category) and building the
regional product shopping path data, during step 306. Thereafter, the
Shopping Paths server 301 sends the processed regional product shopping
path data to Shopping Path tool 201 process, located at the DS/SP
model-tool Server 200, during step 307. Regional-Product-SP process 302
terminates during step 308.

[0182] In another particular embodiment of this invention Shopping Paths
server 301 builds in advance/up-dates (using the process described at
steps 304 to 307 from Regional-Product-SP process 302) a selected number
of regional product shopping paths (the most requested ones, for
example), storing the data at a repository database (not show on FIG.
11). At this embodiment when the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 requests a
regional product Shopping Path information (on step 303), and Shopping
Paths server 301 would retrieve the repository database if the requested
regional product shopping path data is available there; and if it is not
available, the Shopping Paths server 301 would built it (proceeding with
step 304).

[0183]FIG. 52 is a flow chart describing the DIB-Offers configuration
process 335 implemented at the Shopping Paths server 301, shown in FIG.
12. As illustrated in FIG. 52, the DIB-Offers configurator process 335 is
initiated during step 338 when DS/SP model-tool Server 200 requested
DIB-offers information related to a specific user's DIB to Shopping Paths
Server 301 (DIB-Offer configurator process 335). Thereafter receiving the
request, Shopping Paths server 301 access user's regional product
shopping path data, which has been processed by the Regional SP 302
process, selecting the related offers according to the user's preferable
DIB-date, during step 339. This process of selecting the offers related
to the user's DIB-date, works by taking the preferable date of
pick-up/delivery of the user's DIB, and selecting the available offers
with the same or approximate DIB pick-up/delivery date. For example, if
the users DIB (on the date of 08/20/05) and his preferable date of
delivery is on 08/28/05, then the DIB-offers configurator determines
which pre-defined offers from sellers fit the DIB-date, selecting the DIB
related offers; in this particular case, the DIB-offers configurator
would probably select the offers' prices with 4 to 7 delivery days as the
offers that fit (relate) the user's DIB date.

[0185] In another embodiment of the present invention, consumers have the
ability to DIB for customized products (determining their desirable
customized product features as part of their DIBs). At this embodiment,
sellers define rules for product configuration (different prices for
different features and services) at the DIB-configurator section (shown
of FIG. 75), and these rules are stored at a product configuration
database (not shown at the

[0188] The product shopping path pattern as well as the shopping path tool
GUI can support product-offers news/reports services, either at static
mediums such as newspapers and magazines, or at animated mediums such as
TV, computers (at internet) and mobile devices. According to one
embodiment of this invention, the product shopping path pattern and the
shopping path tool GUI support product-offers news/reports services
provided by networked hubs on the Internet.

[0189] In another embodiment of this invention, networked hubs on the
Internet use real people and/or animated host avatars to describe the
product & offers news/reports mentioned above. In one particular
embodiment of this invention, the Vhost Enterprise software, from Oddcast
Inc. (www(.)oddcast(.)com) provided the animated host avatar technology.
In this mentioned embodiment, the avatar-news builder process 550,
implemented at the SP News Server 501, is supported by Oddcast's
technology. In another embodiment of this invention, the product & offers
news/reports service mentioned above is provided as a component of the
shopping path tool (which is displayed at a networked hub website). The
figures described bellow illustrates an example graphical interface and
presents a particular method to implement this product & offers
news/reports service.

[0190]FIG. 53a and FIG. 53b illustrate examples screenshots of example
graphical interfaces showing a product news/report being described by an
animated host avatar. At FIG. 53a the example screenshot of the product
news/report highlights the position of the most popular products among
simple, medium and sophisticated product categories of digital cameras.
The example screenshot also displays a panel showing the popularity-rank
of products and offers features, where the length of the bars in front of
the products and offers features illustrates their comparative popularity
level. An animated model of the San Francisco Shopping Path is displayed
below the host avatar. FIG. 53b illustrates an example screenshot of an
example graphical interface showing a product news/report being described
by an animated host avatar. The example screenshot of the product
news/report highlights and briefly describes the most popular products
among the compacts, standard and professional size categories of digital
cameras.

[0191]FIG. 54 is a flow chart describing the SP-News process 502,
implemented at the SP News Server 501, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated
in FIG. 54, the SP-News process 502 is initiated during step 503 when
Shopping Path Tool process 201 requested a specific news/report.
Thereafter SP News Server 501 accesses the networked hub databases 13 and
DS/SP system modules that apply to the requested news/report, retrieving
the required data, during step 504. An initial test is performed at step
505 verifying if the requested specific avatar news (say the animation
with video and sound) is available at avatar news database.

[0194] FIG. 55 is a flow chart describing the Avatar-news builder process
550, implemented at the SP News Server 501, shown in FIG. 12. As
illustrated in FIG. 55, the Avatar-news builder process 550 is initiated
during step 552 when SP News Server 501 verifies at Temporary News
database 590 what news/reports needs to be built (assuming a standard
number of news/reports are pre-defined). Thereafter SP News Server 501
chooses one avatar news/report, and retrieve the data that apply to that
chosen avatar news/report at the networked hub databases 13 and DS/SP
system databases, during step 553. Thereafter SP News Server 501 builds
the text that describes the chosen avatar news/report, and then built the
related animated avatar news/report (say the animation with video and
sound). Storing it at Avatar News Database 589, during step 554.
Thereafter, during step 555, SP News Server 501 repeats the procedure
described above (steps 553 and 554) to all news/reports defined at step
552. An initial test is performed at step 556, verifying if the SP News
process 502 requested specific avatar news that is not available at
Avatar News Database 589. If the SP News process 502 didn't request a
specific avatar news that is not available at Avatar News Database 589,
then during step 559, the SP News Server 501 will up-date the avatar
news/reports, at pre-defined intervals, going back to step 552. If it was
determined at step 556 that the SP News process 502 requested a specific
avatar news that is not available at Avatar News Database 589, then SP
News Server 501 retrieves the data that apply to that chosen avatar
news/report at the networked hub databases 13 and DS/SP system databases,
during step 557. Thereafter News Server 501 builds the text that
describes the chosen avatar news/report, and then builds the related
animated avatar news/report (say the animation with video and sound).
Storing it at Avatar News Database 589, and sending it to SP News process
502, during step 558. Thereafter, during step 559, SP News Server 501
will up-date the avatar news/reports, at predefined intervals, going back
to step 552.

[0195] In one embodiment of this invention, the user can select the type
of information presented at the product & offers news/reports service,
for example the user could choose from different categories of products
and offers, different regions and different ranking measures (like
popularity, sales, DIBs, etc..).

[0196] Live

[0197] When a user is searching for products and offers at e-commerce
website or price comparison engine, in theory, the user's shopping
process can be graphically modeled by an user-avatar navigating at a
regional shopping path model (as shown on FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e). Even the
whole traffic (users' shopping processes) of an e-commerce website or
price comparison engine can be, in theory, graphically represented by
users-avatars navigating regional shopping paths at a DS/SP model. The

[0198] DS/SP model and the regional shopping paths, in theory, can
function as a multi-user 3-D virtual space, where as users-avatars
navigate the structures of the DS/SP model (the regional product shopping
paths), they automatically perform their shopping process.

[0199] In one embodiment of the present invention, a networked hub allows
users to see their position at the regional shopping paths, while they
perform their shopping processes either browsing lists of products and
offers or by using the shopping path tool. In another embodiment of the
present invention, a networked hub's determines that its regional
shopping paths models (such as the San Francisco Shopping Path) are
public spaces, and the users' navigation on them are, by default,
invisible, anonymous and inaccessible. At this embodiment, users have
privacy controls that allow them to change their status, for example, to
visible, with open identity and accessible to communicate with other
users. In another embodiment of the present invention, the networked hub
determines that the bottom of the regional shopping paths (of the DS Map)
corresponds to chat spaces, so that groups of avatars can meet and
communicate at this chat spaces. In one particular embodiment of the
present invention, the shopping path tool (displayed at a networked hub's
website) has a Live-section graphical interface model, which is
illustrated at FIG. 56.

[0200] FIG. 56 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing the position of one user-avatar among several other
users-avatars at the San Francisco digital cameras shopping path, as well
as the participants of the Live-chat at the US digital cameras shopping
path, both being described by an animated host avatar. The host avatar
located at the right-top section of the example screenshot is describing
the flow of user-avatars at the San Francisco digital cameras shopping
path, and the current chat-groups at the Live-chat space (at the US
digital cameras shopping path). The Live section of the screenshot shows
with an arrow (at YOU are there) the actual position of the user-avatar
at the San Francisco digital cameras shopping path, while the user is
using the shopping path tool. Notice that the even though the user can
see the position of his or her avatar, the avatar is invisible (by
default), to other user's avatars, until the user change its status to
visible. The Live section of the screenshot is depicting 83 animated
avatar-users, which means that 83 users are proceeding at their shopping
process (with visible status), while 387 other avatars proceed at their
shopping processes, by default, with invisible status.

[0201] The Live-chat section of the screenshot is showing that 3,787
consumers and 347 sales representatives are participating at several chat
groups. As the user scroll-down the list of chat groups, the chat group
that is highlighted at the list is also highlighted at the graph. At this
particular case, the screenshot illustrates that the user selected the
chat group discussing about 3 mega-pixels digital cameras, highlighting
the position of the group at the floor of the US digital cameras shopping
path. If the user wants to participate at this chat group (about 3
mega-pixels digital cameras), he or she would need to click at the button
"Chat with this group", then the chat application would appear either at
the current page or as a pop-up page.

[0202]FIG. 57 is a flow chart describing the user's shopping path
tracking process (not shown at FIGS. 11 and 12), performed by the
web-application (like a flash application) at the computer 1 of the user,
shown in FIG. 11. As illustrated in FIG. 57, shopping path tracking
process has a pre-condition shown in step 620, where an user opens the
Shopping Path Tool at a networked hub website. Thereafter the
web-application, at the computer 1 of the user, notifies the SP-live
server 601 and Ads Server 701 that a shopping process was initiated,
during step 621.

[0203] An initial test is performed during step 622, verifying if the user
selected/filtered products or offers features. If user selected/filtered
products or offers features, then web-application, at the computer 1 of
the user, sends data, describing the selected/filtered products or offers
features, to SP-live server 601 and Ads Server 701, during step 623.
Thereafter a further test is performed during step 626, verifying if the
user closed the browser. If the user didn't close the browser, then the
process goes back to step 622. If the user closed the browser, then
user's shopping path tracking process terminates at step 627. If at step
622 it was determined that user didn't select/filter any product or offer
feature, then the web-application, at the computer 1 of the user,
verifies if the user is looking at or interacting with a product panel
for more than 5 seconds during step 624. If the user is not looking at or
interacting with a product panel for more than 5 seconds, then the
process go back to step 622. If the user is looking at or interacting
with a product panel for more than 5 seconds, then the web-application,
at the computer 1 of the user, sends data describing the specific product
and offer type the user is looking at or interacting with to Ads Server
701, during step 625. Thereafter a further test is performed during step
626, verifying if the user closed the browser. If the user didn't close
the browser, then the process goes back to step 622. If the user closed
the browser, then user's shopping path tracking process terminates at
step 627.

[0204]FIG. 58 is a flow chart describing the SP-Life input process 602,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated
in FIG. 58, SP-Life input process 619 has a pre-condition shown in step
603, where an user started to use his or hers Shopping Path Tool
(web-application), so that the user's Shopping Path Tool notifies the
SP-live server 601 that a shopping process was initiated. Thereafter the
SP-Live server 601, performs an initial test during step 604, verifying
if the user is log-in. If the user is not log-in SP-Live server 601
determines that the user's IP address is the user's identification,
during step 606. Thereafter SP-Live server 601 determines the user
location, if possible, during step 607. Thereafter, during step 608,
SP-Live server 601 determines the user's avatar X, Y and Z position at a
regional product shopping path (as illustrated at FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e).

[0205] If during step 604, it was verified that the user was log-in, then
during step 605, SP-Live server 601 retrieves the user's location at
use's database (not shown at FIGS. 11 and 12) and user's privacy setting
at privacy setting database 690. Thereafter, during step 608, SP-Live
server 601 determines the user's avatar X, Y and Z position at a regional
product shopping path (as illustrated at FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e). Thereafter
SP-Live server 601 stores the user's identification, location, time and
what product/offers features the user is looking at SP-Live database 685,
during step 609. A further test is performed, during step 610, verifying
if the user selected/filtered products/offers features or changed product
category, during step 610. If the user selected/filtered products/offers
features or changed product category, then the SP-Live server 601 goes
back to step 608 determining the new user-avatar X, Y and Z position at a
regional product shopping path, and proceeding to step 609, as shown on
FIG. 58. If it was verified at step 610, that the user didn't
selected/filtered products/offers features or changed product category,
then SP-Live server 601 further performs a test, during step 611,
verifying if the user closed the browser. If the user didn't close the
browser, then the process goes back to step 610. If the user closed the
browser, then SP-Life input process 602 terminates at step 612. Process
602 assumes that once the user closes the browser (end the process is
terminated), SP-Live database 685 is up dated as the user avatar
disappeared from the regional product shopping path.

[0206] FIG. 59 is a flow chart describing the SP-Life output process 619,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated
in FIG. 59, SP-Life output process 619 has a pre-condition shown in step
613, where an user opened the Live panel at the Shopping Path Tool
(web-application), so Shopping Path Tool requests data for the SP-live
server 601. Thereafter SP-Live server 601 retrieves the avatars positions
on the specific regional product shopping path at the SP-Live database
685, during step 614. Thereafter SP-Live server 601 sends the avatars
positions on the specific regional shopping path to the user's web
application at computer 1, during step 615. An initial test is performed
at step 616, verifying if any user-avatar changed its position at the
regional product shopping path. If no user-avatar changed its position at
the regional product shopping path, then a further test is performed at
step 617, verifying if the user closed the browser. If the user didn't
close the browser, then the process goes back to step 616. If the user
closed the browser, then the SP-Life output process 619 terminates at
step 612. If, at step 616, it was verified that at least one user-avatar
changed its position at the regional product shopping path, then the
process goes back to step 614.

[0207] FIG. 60 is a flow chart describing the SP-Chat process 628,
implemented at the SP-Live server 601, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated
in FIG. 60, SP-Chat process 628 has a pre-condition shown in step 629,
where an user opened the Live panel at the Shopping Path Tool, so user's
web-application (Shopping Path Tool) requests data for the SP-live server
601.

[0208] Thereafter SP-Live server 601 retrieves the chat groups at the
networked hub chat database (not shown at FIGS. 11 and 12), during step
630. At one particular embodiment of the invention, the DS/SP system
utilizes an existing chat application and database from the networked
hub, to run the SP-Live chat groups. Thereafter SP-Live server 601 sends
the avatar chat groups and the avatar positions (on the floor of the
specific regional shopping path) to the user's web application at
computer 1, during step 631. An initial test is performed at step 632,
verifying if the user selected an avatar chat group and clicked "chat
with this group". If the user selected an avatar chat group and clicked
"chat with this group", then the networked hub chat web-application is
sent to the user browser, during step 633. Thereafter, during step 634,
the user is participating at the selected chat group. A further test is
performed at step 635, verifying if any avatar left the chat. If the user
didn't left the chat group, then the process goes back step 634. If it
was verified at step 635 that the user left the chat group, then a
further test is performed at step 636, verifying if user selected another
avatar chat group and clicked "chat with this group" button. If the user
selected another avatar chat group, then the process goes back to step
633 (where the networked hub chat web-application is sent to the user
browser). If it was verified at step 636 that user didn't select another
avatar chat group, then a further test is performed at step 637,
verifying if the user left the Live-section of the shopping path tool or
closed the browser. If the user didn't leave the Live-section of the
shopping path tool or closed the browser, then the process goes back to
step 632. If the user left the Live-section or closed the browser, then
the SP-Chat process 628 terminates at step 638. If, at step 632, it was
verified that the user didn't select an avatar chat group and click at
the "chat with this group" button, then the process goes further to step
637. If at any step of process the user leaves the LIVE-section or closes
the browser then the SP-Chat process 628 is terminated.

[0209] Privacy Settings

[0210] In one embodiment of this invention, privacy setting control
functions are provided as a component of the shopping path tool; so that
users have control of his or hers privacy settings while using the
shopping path tool. FIG. 61 is a flow chart describing the SP-Privacy
Settings process 650, implemented at the SP Live Server 601, shown in
FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 61, SP-Privacy Settings process 650 has a
pre-condition shown in step 652, where users of the Shopping Path Tool
are, by default, anonymous and invisible (at the regional shopping path)
during their shopping process. An initial test is performed during step
653, verifying if the user clicked any control function of his or her
Privacy Settings If user clicked any control function of his or her
Privacy Settings, then SP Live Server 601 performs another test, during
step 654, verifying if the user is log-in. If the user is log-in SP Live
Server 601 retrieves user privacy settings at SP-privacy settings
database 690, during step 655. Thereafter the user changes his or her
privacy settings, and that changes are stored at the Privacy settings
database 690, during step 658. Thereafter the user's privacy settings
have been changed, SP-Privacy Settings process 650 terminates at step
659. If it was determined at step 654 that the user is not log-in, then
the user is asked to log-in, during step 656. If the user log-in, then
the process proceeds to step 655. If the user didn't log-in then the
process goes back to step 656, as shown on FIG. 61.

[0211] 3. Shopping Path Tool Ads

[0212] In one embodiment of this invention, a networked hub displays ads
or panels of ads (related to products and offers) along or within the
shopping path tool panels. These ads can follow the format of those
static ads displayed at the right side of search engines results; or they
can also be animated such as the banner ads, usually located at the top
of several web pages on the Internet. In one embodiment of this
invention, the ads displayed along the shopping path tool interacts with
the tool, so that the product or offer information displayed at the ad
can have its position highlighted at the panels of the shopping path
tool. In one embodiment of this invention, when the user passes the
mouse-arrow over said ad, or over a displayed show-me button inside or
along said ad, then the graphical interface highlights and indicates the
position of one or more products at the shopping path panel and/or the
position of one or more offers at the offers panel. One characteristic of
the shopping path tool is to provide unprecedented levels of price/offers
transparency to consumers, so that when the position of advertised
products or offers are highlighted at the shopping path tool, the
comparative value of that advertised products or offers becomes instantly
transparent. This feature of the shopping path tool could be useful to
sellers and manufactures that want to advertise and prove (making
transparent) the value of their offers; at the same time it would make
more difficult to advertisers to fool uninformed consumers with ordinary
or expensive offers.

[0213] In one embodiment of the present invention, advertisers display one
or more panels of the shopping path tool inside their banner ads, to
demonstrate the value of their products or offers. In one embodiment of
this invention, sellers advertise interactive banner ads, which have
identical or similar displays and functions of the shopping path tool's
panels and control functions.

[0214] FIG. 62 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool displaying a panel of ads, located
at the upper part of the tool. Some of these ads have a "show me" button,
which interacts when the user pass the mouse-arrow over it. The example
screenshot illustrates a user that was looking at the offers for the
Nikon CoolPic 3100 digital camera, and an ad featuring a similar product
(Canon Power Shot S40) is displayed, claiming it has more features for
the same price. When the user passes the mouse-arrow over the "show me"
button of the ad, the position of the product at the shopping path panel
is automatically highlighted, and the product bar related to the Canon
Powershot S40 keeps flashing as long the mouse-arrow is over the "show
me" button. If the user clicks or double-click at the show me" button of
the ad, the shopping path and offer panels of the shopping path tool will
display the Canon Powershot S40 information, and another web page is open
with the link related to that ad.

[0215] FIG. 63 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool displaying a panel of ads, located
at the bottom part of the tool. Some of these ads have a "show me"
button, which interacts when the user pass the mouse-arrow over it or
click on it. The example screenshot illustrates a user that was
interacting with the offers panel for the Nikon CoolPic 3100 digital
camera, when an ad featuring an specific offer, was displayed, claiming a
sale price of $ 378.99 for pick-up the camera today at the store. When
the user passes the mouse-arrow over the "show me" button of the ad, the
shopping path tool displays the position of the advertised offer at the
offers panel and the details of the advertised offer at the specific
offers panel. If the user clicks or double-click at the show me" button
of the ad, offer panels of the specific offer panel will display the
specific offers information, and another web page is open with the link
related to that ad.

[0216] FIG. 64 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a banner-ad, advertising specific offers, wherein the
banner ad would be placed at a giving position of a web page, such as at
the top of the web page. The example screenshot of the banner-ad
illustrates a store advertising its pick-up today offers, with one, two
and three years of warranty, for the Canon Digital Rebel EOS-digital
camera. The ad uses an animated host avatar (located at the upper left
corner) to describe its offers, wherein the offers are displayed on a
panel (resembling the offers panel of a shopping path tool) to compare
its offers with the competition. Marketers and sellers will be able to
create ads and banner-ads that prove the comparative value of their
products using one of more elements of the shopping path tool, shown in
FIGS. 13 to FIG. 48f.

[0217] FIG. 65 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a banner ad advertising the variety of available
products for sale, wherein the banner ad would be placed at a giving
position of a web page, such as at the top of the web page. The example
screenshot of the banner ad illustrates a store advertising a variety of
digital camera models (from different brands) for sale. The ad uses an
animated host avatar (located at the bottom left corner) to describe the
digital cameras it sells, where the digital cameras are displayed as
product bars arranged by brand (resembling the offers panel of a shopping
path tool). The ad highlights the position of the Canon Digital Rebel
EOS-digital camera (product-bar), displaying a specific offer (the price
for today pick-up). Sellers will be able to create ads and banner-ads
that prove the comparative value of their offers using one of more
elements of the shopping path tool, shown in FIGS. 13 to FIG. 48f.

[0218] FIG. 66 is a flow chart describing the SP-Ads process 702,
implemented at the SP-Ads server 701, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated in
FIG. 66, SP-Ads process 702 has a pre-condition shown in step 703, where
an user started to use Shopping Path Tool (the web-application), so that
the user's Shopping Path Tool notifies the SP-Ads server 701 that a
shopping process was initiated. Thereafter SP-Ads server 701 retrieves
static, dynamic and interactive ads at SP-ads database 785, at the
networked hub databases 13 or at a third part networked hub (not shown at
FIGS. 11 and 12), during step 704. Thereafter SP-Ads server 701 sends ads
to the user's web application, during step 705. An initial test is
performed at step 706, verifying if the user selected/filtered products
or offers features. If the user didn't select/filter products or offers
features, then a further test is performed at step 707, verifying if the
user is looking at the product panel for more than 5 seconds or
interacting with the offers panel of the shopping path tool. If the user
didn't keep looking at the product panel for more than 5 seconds or
didn't interact with the offers panel of the shopping path tool, then the
process goes back to step 706. If the user kept looking at the product
panel or interacted with the offers panel of the shopping path tool for
more than 5 seconds, then SP-Ads server 701 retrieves the related static,
dynamic and interactive ads at SP-ads database 785, at the networked hub
databases 13 or at a third part networked hub, during step 708. If at the
step 706, it was determined that the user selected/filtered products or
offers features, then the process goes further to step 708. Thereafter
step 708, the SP-Ads server 701 sends the ads to the user's web
application, during step 709. Thereafter a further test is performed at
step 710, verifying if the user closed the browser. If the user didn't
close the browser, then the process goes back to step 706. If the user
closed the browser, then the SP-Ads process 702 terminates at step 711.

[0219] 4. The Dib Process

[0220] According to specific embodiments of this invention, a DS/SP model
system is deployed to support e-commerce functions at networked hub
systems (such as e-retailers or price comparison engines), providing
supporting shopping tools for consumers and marketing tools for sellers.

[0221] In one embodiment, the DS/SP model software system allows consumers
to declare their intention to buy (DIB), graphically plotting the DIBs
information into the DS/SP model. The result is that sellers gain
declared demand information of the market and a segmentation/targeting
tool, as the same time consumers gain a mechanism that help to create
improved/customized deals for them.

[0222]FIG. 67 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a shopping path tool with a DIB-section opened and
displaying a few DIB options for the consumer to choose. When a consumer
clicks, for example, on a DIB button for a specific product (such as the
Product Panel 2005 or at the specific offers panel 2007 shown on FIG. 22)
or for a general features product category (such as the
Select/Filter-products-and-deals panel 2020 shown on FIG. 35), the
DIB-section GUI is displayed, so that the consumer can DIB for that
selected specific product or general features product category. The DIB
page shown on FIG. 67 illustrates that the consumer was searching at the
shopping path tool (at a general features product category) when he or
she clicked at the DIB button; notice that the chosen product features
and offer types are described at the top of the DIB-section. The consumer
would need to specify if he or she wants to get the product at home or at
a store (or either one), his or her purchase certainty and his or her
preferable date of delivery; in order to confirm his or her DIB.
Immediately after the consumer confirmed the DIB, he or she might go back
to the SHOP section of the shopping path tool to see if he or she
received improved/customized deals over the offers that were already
(publicly) available. In another embodiment of the present invention, the
DIB-section displays, in addition to the buttons shown on FIG. 67, an
additional option (a button saying: "customize the product" that is not
shown of FIG. 67) would give consumers the ability to DIB for a
customized product, like a customized computer for example. If the
consumer clicks at the "customize the product" button, then the height of
the DIB-section panel would expand to display different product features
for the consumer to choose. After selecting the desired product features
and confirming the DIB, the consumer can expect to receive customized
product DIB-offers at his or her shopping path tool.

[0223] FIG. 68 is a flow chart describing the DIB process 402, implemented
at the DIB server 401, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 68, DIB
process 402 is initiated during step 404 while the user was
browsing/searching through list of products/offers and/or interacting
with shopping path tool; and the user clicked on a DIB button (either a
specific, a general or a See-my-DIB-offers button). Thereafter, DIB
server 401 further initiates a test, during step 405, to determine if
user is already log-in. If the user is not log-in, he or she must log-in
in order to DIB, during step 406, otherwise the DIB process won't
proceed. If it is verified at step 405 that the user was already log-in,
then DIB server 401 further performs a test during step 407 to determine
if the user already DIB for that specific or general product; DIB server
401 queries DIB database 491 to determine if the user has DIB for it. If
the user hasn't DIB yet, then during step 408, the shopping path tool GUI
presents to the user a display/form where he or she input his/her DIB
information, like the preferable date of pick-up/delivery, purchase
certainty, where to get the product and quantity. Thereafter the user
confirmed the DIB, DIB server 401 generates a DIB number, during step
409, and then store/update record at DIB database 491 with status
(pending), during step 410. Once the DIB-number is stored or up-dated,
the DIB-offer configurator process 335 (described in FIG. 52) configures
and sends to the uses his or hers DIB-offers, during step 415. If it was
verified, during step 407, that the user already DIB for that specific or
general product; then the process goes to step 415. Then a further test
is performed by DIB server 401, during step 416, verifying if the user
cancelled his or her DIB. If the user cancelled the DIB, DIB server 401
updates record at DIB database 491 with status (canceled), during step
417. If the DIB was canceled, during step 417, then DIB process 402 is
terminated at step 428.

[0224] If it was verified that the user didn't cancel the DIB, at step
416, DIB server 401 further performers another test verifying if user
clicked at a edit-DIB button, during step 418. If the user clicked at
edit-DIB button, the user may change the date and maybe the product
features of his or her existing DIB, during step 422. The changes at the
user DIB are stored/up-dated at DIB database 491 with status (pending),
during step 410. If the user didn't click at the edit-DIB button, during
step 418, then a further test is performed at step 419, verifying if the
DIB-date is expired. If it is verified on step 419 that the DIB-date is
expired, then the DIB server 401 triggers a mechanism that sends an
e-mail (just once) notifying the user that her or his DIB is expired,
during step 420. Then a further test is performed at step 421, verifying
if the user edited the expired DIB (say after two 2 days the DIB was
expired, for example). If the user clicked at edit-DIB button, and then
he or she can change the DIB, at step 422; those changes are
stored/up-dated at DIB-database 491, during step 410.

[0225] If the user didn't up-dated the expired DIB (say after 2 days the
DIB expired), DIB server 401 updates record at DIB database 491 with
status (expired), during step 423. As the DIB is recorded as expired, the
DIB process 402 is terminated at step 428. If it was verified at step 419
that the DIB was not expired, then a further test is performed at step
424, verifying if the user accepted an offer and made a purchase. If the
user didn't make a purchase, then the process goes back to step 416,
verifying if the user cancel the DIB. If it was verified at step 424 that
the user made a purchase, a further test is performed at step 425,
verifying if the user accepted a DIB-offer or a non-DIB (public) offer.
If the use accepted a DIB-offer, DIB server 401 updates record at DIB
database 491 with status (DIB offer purchase), during step 426. After the
DIB server 401 changed the DIB status to DIB offer purchase, and DIB
process 402 is terminated at step 428. If the user accepted a non-DIB
offer, DIB server 401 updates record at DIB database 491 with status
(non-DIB offer purchase), during step 427. After the DIB server 401
changed the DIB status to non-DIB offer purchase, and DIB process 402 is
terminated at step 428.

[0226] In another embodiment of the present invention, consumers have the
ability to DIB for customized products; so that at the step 408 of DIB
process 402, the consumer would also determine his or her the desirable
customized product features.

[0227] In one embodiment of this invention, the DS/SP system is deployed
at a price comparison engine; where consumers can compare products and
offers, wherein after clicking on an offer, consumers are sent to the
seller website to accept the offer and purchase the product. Ideally
every time a consumer clicks on a offer at the shopping tool, and
confirms (purchase) a offer at the seller's website, the seller should
have a mechanism (at their website, say a installed piece of software
code) that would let the DS/SP system know that a public or DIB-offer
selected at the shopping path tool was accepted (purchased) at the
seller's website. In one embodiment of this invention, the DIB server 401
(at the DIB process 402) would be notified by the installed piece of
software code at the seller's website, during step 424, if the consumer
made the purchase at the seller's website. The prior art of these
software mechanisms (cookies or Google's AdSense from google.com, for
example) that notifies a networked hub when a purchase took place at the
seller's website are becoming so widely used nowadays, that it won't be
detailed at this invention.

[0229] Database 491. The DIB server 401 aggregates DIBs by categories of
products and offers features, which are homogeneous within and
heterogeneous between, as DIB-segments, during step 483. Those features
include but are not limit to: same product or similar features products,
region, pick-up/delivery date, warranty, guarantee satisfaction, extra
item, product and store rating. Thereafter, DIB server 401 stores the
DIB-segments data at the DIB-segments database 494, which may include for
each DIB-segment: a specific code, a name, a description of the
DIB-segment and the specific DIBs numbers which belong to that
DIB-segment, during step 484. Thereafter, DIB server 401 creates a set of
standard reports with winners and losers of DIB-segments by regional
level (national, state, main cities), storing the reports at DIB segments
database 494, during step 485. Thereafter, DIB server 401, at predefined
intervals, up-dates the expired DIBs and new income DIBs, during step
486, starting the process again, accessing the DIB database at step 482
and so on.

[0230] In another embodiments of this invention, marketers deploy data
mining and/or analytical/business intelligence applications to add
additional analytical capabilities to the DIB-segments process 480 and
the segments queries of user/sellers. Enterprises can use, for example,
their current IT infrastructure, say their data mining applications and
OLAP systems, to select and aggregate DIB-data available at the DIB
Database 491, delivering DIB-related analytical information to its
enterprise applications (like ERP, CRM, SCM, 17 of FIG. 11). The prior
art of using data mining and analytical/business intelligence
applications to categorize and rank consumers data into market segments
are so widespread nowadays that it won't be detailed at this invention.

[0231] Marketing Shopping Path Tools

[0232] As the same way the DS/SP model system, deployed at networked hub
systems (such as e-retailers or price comparison engines), provides
supporting shopping tools (the shopping path tool) for consumers; it also
provides marketing tools for sellers (the marketing shopping path tool).
Several panels and functions present at the shopping path tool are also
present at the marketing shopping path tool, with the difference that the
marketing shopping path tool has additional features and panels that are
only pertinent to sellers, such as the ability to search DIB-segments and
to create and edit offers for products and services.

[0233] In a particular embodiment of this invention, the marketing
shopping path tool is an interactive tool (that could be deployed either
in Java or Macromedia's Hash) displayed inside one interactive row (the
SP-MKT-tool row) 2503 shown on FIG. 70, which are displayed among other
rows that display the seller list of products and offers. The SP-MKT-tool
row 2503 identically follows the model of the SP-tool row 2003, wherein
the SP-MKT-tool row 2503 displays a marketing shopping path tool inside
it. Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 implemented at the networked hub
web-server 10, shown in FIG. 11, is responsible to create both the
SP-tool row 2003 for the consumer's shopping path tool as well as the
SP-MKT-tool row 2503 for the sellers' marketing shopping path tool.

[0235] As the same way the Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 produces the
buyers' SP-tool row 2003 (shown on FIG. 49), it also produces the
seller's SP-MKT-tool row 2503. The difference is that the
Html-code/Call-GUI 100 is initiated during step 102 when a seller, while
is browsing/searching the pages of the networked hub website, requested a
page that has a Marketing Shopping Path Tool 2002. While the web-server
10 is building the page, it places a SP-MKT-tool row 2503 on the
designated area of the page, during step 103. Thereafter, the web-server
10 calls Marketing Shopping Path tool 250 process, located at the DS/SP
model-tool Server 200, requesting marketing shopping path tool
information related to a specific product category (like digital
cameras), during step 104. Thereafter, the web-server 10 downloads the
page contents first, and then downloads Marketing Shopping Path Tool,
during step 105. Html-code/Call-GUI process 100 terminates during step
106.

[0236] FIG. 72 illustrates an example screenshots of an example graphical
interface showing that the marketing shopping path tool (located above a
list of products) can interact with the list of products, when the seller
scrolls down/up the browser scroll button. The marketing shopping path
tool interacts with the list of products identically to how the shopping
path tool interacts the list of products, as explained on FIG. 24 to FIG.
27. FIG. 72 follows the example shown on FIG. 71, illustrating a seller
scrolling-down the browser, so that the SP-MKT-tool row and the shopping
path tool recognize the product at the top-row of the list, which is
touching the bottom of the SP-MKT-tool row, embracing the top-row with a
colored square or rectangle 2506. In this particular case, the embraced
row is related to the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. If the
seller keeps scrolling down one more row, for example, the Nikon Coolpix
3100 digital camera row would be embraced.

[0237] FIG. 73 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool with the
manage-my-offers panel opened. The manage-my-offers panel displays
information (like product features and offers details) related to the
selected product, in this particular case the Canon Digital
Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. The manage-my-offers panel displays, at
its right side, product information like name, product features and price
variation. Identically to the shopping path tool's Product Panel 2005,
the manage-my-offers panel has two additional panels displayed at the
left side of it, particularly the Offers panel, and the specific offer
panel. The Offers panel, and the specific offer panel won't be described
because they are identical to the panels described at the shopping path
tool, shown on FIGS. 19, 21, 22 and 23. The manage-my-offers panel has
two additional panels, the Public Offers panel and the DIB offers panel,
with the respective functions of creating new or editing public-offers
and DIB-offers. Both Public Offers panel and the DIB offers panel are
shown on FIG. 73 at their contracted form.

[0238] The Select/Filter panel and the Shopping Path panel (shown on FIG.
73) present at the marketing shopping path tool won't be described
because they are identical to the Select/Filter panel and the Shopping
Path panel described at the shopping path tool on FIGS. 19, 20, 34 and
35.

[0239]FIG. 74 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool with its
manage-my-offers panel opened, and in particular, with the Public Offers
panel 2509 opened and the DIB-offer panel 2510 closed. Sellers can use
the marketing shopping path tool to compare its own offers with the
competitors' offers, being able to edit current offers, create new public
offers, as well as create/update DIB-offers. So that when a seller logs
in to the networked hub, the seller's marketing shopping path tool is
already set-up to focus in the seller's offers in contrast to the
competitor's offers. The offers panel 2507 is showing the 4 to 7 days
pick-up/delivery offers from all sellers (at the networked hub),
highlighting the seller's offers with bigger squares. Similarly to the
shopping path tool, the specific offer panel 2508 displays details the
specific offer (selected and highlighted at the offers panel 2507). The
public offers panel 2509 displays the price components (like base price)
of the offers that are public, meaning that any person whishing to
purchase that product have access to that offer. Notice that the type of
offer highlighted at the offers-panel 2507 and shown at the public offers
panel 2509 are the same (they display the same type of offer, in this
particular case both displays 4 to 7 days offers), so that it is easy for
the seller to edit it existing public offers. By changing the values of
an existing offer at the public offers panel 2509, such as the base price
or handling fees for example, the seller would instantly see (simulate)
the price result at the offers panel 2507, and the effective change would
only take place if he or she clicks the Edit button. If the seller wants
to boost the offer's sales, he or she might create an ad for that
specific offer by clicking the create ad button, and then a page from the
campaigns control function would appear, in order for the seller to
create the ad. The prior art of creating and managing ads by product
keywords or category of features, for example at search engines like
yahoo.com or google.com, are so mainstream nowadays that it won't be
detailed at this invention. If the seller wants to manage the performance
of its offers, he or she might click on the sales reports button, and
then a sales report would appear at a different page or as an additional
panel on the marketing shopping path tool. The prior art of sales
reporting, displaying tables and/or graphics, are also so mainstream
nowadays that it won't be detailed at this invention.

[0240] FIG. 75 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying information
about DIB-segments (at US territory), as well as details of the seller's
DIB-offers for a specific product. The marketing shopping path tool shown
on FIG. 75 has two main panels opened: the DIB-segments panel 2513 with
only the DIB-segment control function 2514 selected, and the
manage-my-offers panel opened; with the Public Offers panel 2509 closed
and the DIB-offers panel 2510 opened. Sellers can use the marketing
shopping path tool to navigate and select specific DIB-segments (from
very specific/narrow segments to broad-categories segments), being able
to edit and/or create new temporary and periodic offers/promotions for
those selected DIB-segments, so that only the consumers (the consumers'
DIBs), belonging to those targeted DIB-segments, receive the targeted
DIB-offers.

[0241] The marketing shopping path tool shown on FIG. 75 illustrates an
opened DIB-segments panel 2513, displaying (at the right side) a
plurality of bars 2512, each bar representing one DIB-segment; where the
size (the height) of each bar is proportional to the number of DIBs the
DIB-segment has. In this particular case, of the FIG. 75, the group of
DIB-segments 2512 is arranged in decreasing order. Similarly to the
shopping path tool's product-selector 2012 shown on FIG. 19, the
marketing shopping path tool has a DIB-segment-selector 2511. The
DIB-segment-selector 2511 is attached at a parallel-scroll button,
recognizing the DIB-segment bar it touches, so when a seller scrolls the
button either left or right, the DIB-segment-selector 2511 highlights the
touched DIB-segment bar, and the product information (like public and
DIB-offers) related to the DIB-segment is displayed at the
manage-my-offers panel. When a seller scroll up/down the list of
DIB-segments located at the right side of the DIB-segments panel 2513,
and select one DIB-segment; the same DIB-segment highlighted at the list
is also highlighted at the group of DIB-segments 2512 and the product
information (like public and DIB-offers) related to the selected
DIB-segment is displayed at the manage-my-offers panel.

[0242] In the particular case of the FIG. 75, the DIB-segment-selector
2511 is highlighting the DIB-segment of the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D
digital camera, while the DIB-offer panel 2510 displays the DIB-offers
related to the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. So it is easy
for the seller to analyze, edit (existing offers) and/or create new
temporary and periodic offers/promotions targeting the DIB-segment of the
Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. In order to create a new
temporary DIB-offer, for example, the seller would need to click the
button "create new" (at the right side of temporary offers and promotions
section at the DIB-offers panel 2510), and the software (of the marketing
shopping path tool) would automatically place the DIB-segment name
(US-Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera) at the
circumstance/event/segment section.

[0243] Note that the seller can elaborate and add more details and
characteristics of the DIB-segment at this section. If this is the case,
the seller would need to define the offers details (at least price) at
the conditions/rules/offers/promotions section, and finally the seller
would need to define the time-frame the offer is valid. During this
defined time frame, only the consumers that DIB for the Canon Digital
Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera would have access to this example
DIB-offer. Similarly to the process defined above, sellers can define
periodic/continuous DIB-offers simply by determining a
circumstance/event/segment and then defining the
conditions/rules/offers/promotions (at least price) of the offer; so that
every time a consumer's DIB fit the defined circumstance/event/segment,
the consumer receives the DIB-offer. FIG. 75 illustrates examples of
temporary and periodic/continuous DIB-offers for the Canon Digital
Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. If the seller wants to change an existing
DIB-offer, he or she just need to delete and write either the
circumstance/event, the conditions/rules or the time frame and click the
edit button.

[0244] If the seller wants to boost the DIB -offer's sales, he or she
might create an ad for that specific DIB-offer by clicking the create ad
button, and then a page from the campaigns control function would appear
in order for the seller to create the ad. The prior art of creating and
managing ads by product keywords or category of features, for example at
search engines like yahoo.com or google.com, are so mainstream nowadays
that it won't be detailed at this invention. If the seller wants to
manage the performance of its DIB-offers, he or she might click on the
sales reports button, and then a sales report would appear at a different
page or as an additional panel on the marketing shopping path tool. The
prior art of sales reporting, displaying tables and/or graphics, are also
so mainstream nowadays that it won't be detailed at this invention.

[0245] The DIB-configurator section, located at the bottom of the
DIB-offers panel 2510, displays the "today" amount of configured
DIB-offers for the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera. By
default, all sellers (that use a marketing shopping path tool), have a
pre-set periodic DIB-offer rule, where for every consumer DIB (that can
be fulfilled by the company), wherein the DIB-offers configurator will
select the available public offer that related to the DIB' s preferable
date of pick-up/delivery (the DIB-offers configurator process is
described at the FIG. 52). If the seller wants to change the settings of
its DIB-configurator, he or she would need to click at the edit button,
and then the height of the DIB-configurator section (at DIB-offers panel
2510) expands, to display different options of customization for the
seller to choose (not shown on FIG. 75).

[0246] In another embodiment of this invention, sellers can define rules
for product configuration at the DIB-configurator section, so that when a
consumer DIBs for a customized product, say a lap-top with a certain size
of screen, certain RAM and certain processor for example; the
DIB-configurator process would automatically mach (as much as possible)
the consumer's DIB product requirements with the company's product
features options, sending a customized product DIB-offer to the consumer
(see DIB-offers configurator process at FIG. 52).

[0247] FIG. 76 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying product
offers and DIB-information, and particularly the time-frame and location
of the DIBs, related to one selected DIB-segment. The marketing shopping
path tool shown on FIG. 76 has the DIB-segments panel 2513 opened, with
its DIB -time frame, DIB-map and DIB-segments control functions selected;
and also, the manage-my-offers panel is opened, with the Public Offers
panel 2509 and the DIB-offers panel 2510 closed. When a seller scrolls
the DIB-segment-selector 2511 and selects a specific DIB-segment, the
information related to that specific DIB-segment will be displayed or
highlighted at whichever the panel or control function of the marketing
shopping path tool that is opened. At the exemplary marketing shopping
path tool, shown on FIG. 76, the seller selected a DIB-segment related to
the Canon Digital Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera, so that offers
information related to that camera is displayed at the manage-my-offers
panel; and the time-frame and location of the DIBs of that selected
DIB-segment are displayed at the DIB-segments panel.

[0248] The DIB-map control function provides a map where the location of
the DIBs of a certain DIB-segment is located.

[0249] In one embodiment of this invention, the DIB-map only discloses an
approximate location of the consumers' DIBs; so that at the same time the
consumers' privacy (their exact location) is preserved, sellers still
have a good reference of where is the potential future demand (DIBs). The
DIB-time-line control function provides a graph that shows the DIBs of a
certain DIB- segment displayed at their preferable date of
pick-up/delivery on a time-line. In one embodiment of this invention, the
DIB-time-line is juxtaposed by other time-lines graphs showing past sales
and forecast sales, so that the seller can analyze the size of the
opportunity that DIB-segment represents in comparison with its on sales
projections. The combination of the DIB-segments, DIB-time-line and
DIB-map control functions provide to sellers a valuable notion of what,
where and when is the future sales opportunity, so that sellers can
orchestrate their offers in advance, in order to grab as much of that
declared demand as possible.

[0250] FIG. 77 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a marketing shopping path tool displaying news/reports
information. The News section of the marketing shopping path tool, shown
on FIG. 77, shows the News section with its Shopping Path, DIB-segments,
DIB-time frame, DIB-map and host-avatar control functions selected. An
animated host avatar, which is located at the right-top section of the
screenshot, describes the seller news/report. The presented screenshot of
the seller news/report highlights the offers of the Canon Digital
Rebel/EOS-300D digital camera at the digital cameras shopping path;
describing a summary of the sellers offers, and DIB-information related
to that digital camera.

[0251] The news service (control functions) provided by the marketing
shopping path tool is not described in detail because it is almost
identical to the news service described at the shopping path tool at FIG.
53, FIG. 54 and FIG. 54; the difference of the marketing shopping path
tool news service is that it describes information such as the consumers'
DIB and product sales which are only pertinent to sellers.

[0252] In one embodiment of this invention, asellers would be able to
customize the type of information presented at the news/reports service
section of the marketing shopping path tool. In another embodiment of
this invention, a seller could determine alarms and triggers for various
events, such as competitors' offers, sales volume of products and
specific DIB-segments opportunities; being notified by e-mail or mobile
device that a selected event was triggered and the related news/report
service (describing the selected event) would be available at the
news/reports section of the marketing shopping path tool.

[0253] FIG. 78 is a flow chart describing the Marketing Shopping Path tool
process 250, implemented at the DS/SP model-tool Server 200, shown in
FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 78, the Marketing Shopping Path tool
process 250 is initiated during step 252, when Html-code/Call-GUI process
100 requests that a Marketing Shopping Path tool (with information of a
certain Product category like digital cameras) needs to be built and
downloaded to a certain page. A test is initially performed during step
253 to verify if the seller is already log-in. If it is verified during
step 253 that the seller is already log-in, then DS/SP model-tool Server
200 retrieves seller identification (ID) and location at seller database
(not show) at the networked hub databases 13, during step 254. If it is
determined at step 253 that the seller is not log-in, the seller is asked
to log-in, during step 255. Then a further test is performed at step 256,
verifying if the seller log-in. If the seller log-in, DS/SP model-tool
Server 200 go to step 254, retrieving seller ID and location at sellers
database (not show) at the networked hub databases 13.

[0254] If it is determined at step 256 that the user didn't log-in, DS/SP
model-tool Server 200 will keep asking the sellers ID, and the process
won't proceed unless the seller log-in. After the ID and location of the
seller is retrieved at step 254, the DS/SP model-tool Server 200 requests
the seller's regional product Shopping Path information to Regional SP
302, SP-news 502, SP-Live 602, DS/SP model 802 and also retrieving
seller's DIB-offers from Temporary 493 and Periodic 492 DIB-offers
databases, during step 257. Thereafter DS/SP model-tool Server 200
received the related seller information from Regional SP 302, SP-news
502, SP-Live 602, Private Settings 650, DS/SP model 802, Temporary 493
and Periodic 492 DIB-offers databases arranging this information
according to Marketing Shopping Path Tool template, converting it into a
macromedia flash's SWF file and sending it (the Marketing Shopping Path
Tool application plus the received information described above) to the
seller's computer, during step 258. Thereafter the seller is interacting
with the marketing shopping path tool at the web-browser on his/hers
computer, during step 259.

[0255] A further test is performed at step 260, verifying if the seller
requested information that was not previously loaded at the Marketing
Shopping Path Tool contents or added/edit information (this also include
the Offers (non-DIB) and DIB-Offers creation and edit process 430). If
the seller did requested new information or added/edit information, the
DS/SP model-tool Server 200 requests information or added/edit
information from the related software components (either Regional SP 302,
SP-news 502, SP-Live 602, DS/SP model 802, Temporary 493 and Periodic 492
DIB-offers databases). Sending the received information to the seller's
computer, during step 261. Thereafter the seller is interacting with the
marketing shopping path tool at the web-browser on his/hers computer,
during step 259. If the seller didn't request additional information at
step 260, a further test is performed at step 262, verifying if the
seller clicked/requested information about a different product category.
If the seller requested information about a different product category,
DS/SP model-tool Server 200 starts the whole process again, performing
the process described at step 252. If the user didn't requested
information about a different product category, DS/SP model-tool Server
200 performs a further test, verifying if the seller closed the browser,
during step 264. If the seller closed the browser, Marketing Shopping
Path tool process 250 terminates during step 263. If the seller didn't
close the browser, the seller keeps interacting with the marketing
shopping path tool at the web-browser on his/hers computer, during step
259.

[0256] FIG. 79 is a flow chart describing the Offers (non-DIB) and
DIB-Offers creation and edit process 430, implemented at the DIB Server
401, shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 79, the Offers (non-DIB)
and DIB-Offers creation and edit process 430 is initiated during step 434
while the seller is browsing/ searching products, prices and/or DIB
segments information at the Marketing Shopping Path Tool. An initial test
is performed during step 435 verifying if the seller clicked on create
new/edit Offers (non-DIB) button. If the seller clicked on the create
new/edit Offers (non-DIB) button, then during step 436, the seller
creates/edit the (Non-DIB) Offer, see screenshot illustration on FIG. 74.
Thereafter, during step 437, DIB Server 401 creates/up-dates a record at
the Offers (Non-DIB) database (not shown) at the networked hub databases
13, which may include for each public offer: a specific offer's code, a
name, base price, handling and shipping fees and a description of the
offer. If the seller didn't click on create new/edit Offers (non-DIB)
button, during step 435; a further test is performed at step 438
verifying if the seller clicked on create new/edit Temporary DIB-Offers
button.

[0257] If the seller clicked on the create new/edit Temporary DIB-Offers
button, then during step 439, the seller create/edit a Temporary
DIB-Offer (see screenshot illustration on FIG. 75). Thereafter the DIB
Server 401, during step 440, creates/up-dates record at the Temporary
DIB-Offers database 493, which may include for each Temporary DIB-Offer:
a specific offer's code, the circumstance/event/DIB-segment, the
condition/rule/offer/promotion (which includes the at least price
information) and the time frame of the offer. If the seller didn't click
on create new/edit Temporary DIB-Offers button, during step 438; a
further test is performed at step 441, verifying if the seller clicked on
create new/edit Periodic DIB-Offers button. If the seller clicked on the
create new/edit Periodic DIB-Offers button, then during step 442, the
seller create/edit a Periodic DIB-Offer (see screenshot illustration on
FIG. 75). Thereafter DIB Server 401 creates/up-dates, during step 443, a
record at the Periodic DIB-Offers database 492, which may include for
each Temporary DIB-Offer: a specific offer's code, the
circumstance/event/DIB-segment, the condition/rule/offer/promotion (which
includes the at least price information) and maybe the periodic
time-intervals of the offer. Whether the seller chose to create/edit a
non-DIB Offers, a Temporary or a Periodic DIB-Offer a further test is
performed after the steps 437, 440 and 443, verifying if the user closed
the Marketing Shopping path tool, during step 444. If the user didn't
close the tool, the process goes back to step 434 where the seller is
browsing/ searching at the Marketing Shopping Path Tool. If the user
closed the Marketing Shopping Path tool, Offers (non-DIB) and DIB-Offers
creation and edit process 430 is terminated at step 445. If the seller
didn't click on create new/edit Periodic DIB-Offers button, during step
441; then the process goes to step 444, verifying if the user closed the
Marketing Shopping path tool.

[0258] In one embodiment of this invention, the DS/SP system is deployed
at a price comparison engine; where consumers (usually) compare products
and offers, but after clicking an offer, consumers are sent to the seller
website to proceed the purchase process. DIB-offers can be public and
also can be selective to specific DIB-segments; and in regard to the
selective DIB-offers, the seller would need a mechanism (at their
website) that allows consumers to have access to selective DIB-offers,
that are not publicly available at the seller's website. In this price
comparison engine embodiment of the present invention, public-offer,
temporary DIB-offer and periodic DIB-offer are also stored at the
seller's database; so that when the consumer clicks on a DIB-offer, for
example, the consumer is sent to the seller's website, having access to
that DIB-offer. In one embodiment of this invention, at the Offers
(non-DIB) and DIB-Offers creation and edit process 430, after the seller
created an offer (either public or DIB offer) at steps 436, 439 and 443;
the DIB Server 401 would store the created offer (at steps 437, 440 and
444) not only at the DIB-offers databases (at the DIB data storage device
490) but also at the seller's offers database (not shown on the computers
2 of FIG. 11). In one embodiment of this invention, when the consumer
click on a DIB-offer at the shopping path tool, the specific code of the
DIB-offer would be automatically copied while the consumer is sent to a
specific web-page of the seller's website. Said web-page of the seller's
website asks the consumer to click on a "Click here to get your offer"
button that would paste the specific code of that DIB-offer, then the
consumers have access to its selective specific DIB-offer.

[0259] In another embodiment of the present invention, consumers have the
ability to DIB for customized products (determining their desirable
customized product features as part of their DIBs). At this embodiment,
sellers can define rules for product configuration (different prices for
different features and services) at the DIB-configurator section (shown
on FIG. 75). The definition of these rules for product configuration
would take place at the Offers (non-DIB) and DIB-Offers creation and edit
process 430. At this embodiment, the Offers (non-DIB) and DIB-Offers
creation and edit process 430 have three additional steps, particularly,
after a "no" answer at step 441, (instead of going to step 444) the
DIB-server 401, would make a additional test (say step 447 not shown of
FIG. 79) verifying if the sellers clicked the edit button at the
DIB-configurator section (shown on FIG. 75) and wanted to create or edit
rules for product configuration (for that specific product). If the
seller didn't want to create or edit rules for product configuration,
during step 447 (not shown of FIG. 79); then the process goes to step 444
(and proceeds as shown on FIG. 79). If the seller wants to create or edit
rules for product configuration, during step 447 (not shown on FIG. 79);
then the seller creates or edits the required rules for the specific
product configuration, during step 448 (not shown on FIG. 79). Thereafter
the DIB Server 401 creates/up-dates record at the product configuration
database (not shown at the DIB-process module 400 of FIG. 12), during
step 449 (not shown on FIG. 79). Thereafter the process goes to step 444
(and proceeds as shown on FIG. 79).

[0260] 5. Demand And Supply Map Model

[0261] The DS/SP model is a graphical model that maps/models several
aspects of the demand and supply dynamics at the different levels of the
Earth's locations (over time), representing the process of the demand and
supply dynamics as a dynamic graphical structure. FIG. 4 to FIG. 11
exemplifies and explains the demand and supply map (DS Map) model and the
shopping path model, however details about the models spatial form,
proportions and dimensions (which are related to the Earth's
locations/dimensions, time and money) were not described. The DS map and
Shopping Path models spatial form, proportions and dimensions are
detailed at the appendix: Demand and Supply Map (DS Map) conceptual
model.

[0262] In one embodiment of the presented invention, a networked hub at
the Internet (such as e-retailer, a search or price comparison engine)
runs a DS/SP model software system, which use part or all of the
network's information to build a DS/SP model. In one embodiment of the
presented invention, the DS/SP model software system use data from the
networked hub (such as sales and DIBs) to build an animated model of a
regional shopping path (such as the San Francisco Shopping Path). This
animated model of a regional shopping path can be displayed at buyers'
shopping tools and sellers' marketing tools, for example, to illustrate
and support news and reports functions (as shown on FIG. 53a, FIG. 53b
and FIG. 77). In one embodiment of the presented invention, the networked
hub can choose the circumstances when the shopping and marketing tools
display an animated regional shopping path that represents actual data,
and when the displayed animated regional shopping path is just a
fictitious illustration.

[0263] FIG. 80 illustrates an example screenshot of an animated regional
shopping path, and particularly a fictitious illustration of the earth's
shopping path 3001. This fictitious illustration displays only a
illustrative product cascade 3002 at the earth shopping path 3001;
wherein the DIB space 3004 (above the shopping path 3002) and the DS Map
tail 3005 are empty, with no DIBs displayed at the DIB space 3004 and no
past sales displayed at the DS Map tail 3005. According to the DS/SP
model, the product cascade 3002 represents the flow of products and
services that are being acquired by consumers at the represented specific
region (at the represented specific time); wherein each ball falling from
the shopping path represents a product that were picked-up/delivered to a
consumer at the represented time.

[0264] FIG. 81 illustrates an example screenshot of an example graphical
interface showing a simple animation of a regional shopping path, and
particularly a simple animation of an actual San Francisco shopping path
(built by past and actual sales data from the networked hub). Similarly
to the example shown on FIG. 80, the animated actual model shown of FIG.
81 displays only the product cascade at the San Francisco shopping path;
the DIB space is empty and DS Map tail is not even displayed. The
screenshot shows the actual sales volume at the San Francisco shopping
path animation (at the networked hub) over the period of Sep. 01, 2005 to
Sep. 14, 2005 was $2,254,896. The graphical interface provides to the
user a play, pause and stop buttons, as well as a time-line scrolling
button.

[0265]FIG. 82 is a flow chart describing the DS/SP model process 802,
implemented at the DS/SP model Server 801, shown in FIG. 12. As
illustrated on FIG. 82, the DS/SP model process 802 is initiated during
step 802A when Shopping Path Tool process 201 requested a regional
Shopping Path animation. Thereafter DS/SP model Server 801 retrieves
DS/SP model animations database 885, during step 803. An initial test is
performed at step 804 verifying if the requested specific regional
Shopping Path animation is available at DS/SP model animations database
885. If the requested regional Shopping Path animation is available at
DS/SP model animations database 885, then DS/SP model Server 801
retrieves the requested regional Shopping Path animation at the DS/SP
model animations database 885, during step 806. If the requested regional
Shopping Path animation is not available at DS/SP model animations
database 885, then the DS/SP model Server 801 will build it, during step
805. In this particular embodiment the networked hub pre-determined a
limit number of specific regional shopping paths that will be
pre-built/up-dated and stored at DS/SP model animations database 885, and
if the requested regional shopping paths is not pre-built then an
illustrative/fictitious regional shopping paths is built on the fly. At
step 805, DS/SP model Server 801 accesses a map source database (it can
be a third part database such as Google earth database), retrieving the
requested region map (related to the regional shopping path); and then it
retrieves a standard shopping path animation at the DS/SP model
animations database 885, and then it combines the shopping path animation
with region map, creating a illustrative regional Shopping Path
animation. Thereafter both step 805 and 806, DS/SP model Server 801 sends
the requested regional Shopping Path animation to SP Tool process 201, at
step 807. After SP Tool process 201 receives the specific regional
Shopping Path animation, DS/SP model process 802 is terminated at step
808.

[0266]FIG. 83 is a flow chart describing the DS/SP model animations
builder 850, implemented at the DS/SP model Server 801, shown in FIG. 12
as Regional SP animation builder 850. As illustrated in FIG. 83, DS/SP
model animations builder 850 is initiated during step 852, when DS/SP
model Server 801 verifies at DS/SP model animations database 590 what are
the actual-models of regional Shopping Path animations that needs to be
built/up-dated (assuming a standard number of regional Shopping Path
animations are pre-defined by the networked hub). Thereafter, during step
853, DS/SP model Server 801 chooses one DS/SP model animation and
build/up-date the actual model of regional Shopping Path animation
according to DS/SP model proportions, following the steps: [0267]
Access map source database, retrieving the requested regional map
(regional shopping path) [0268] Retrieve sales information at the
networked hub databases 13 or at the DS/SP system databases (DIB-offer
purchase database 497 and Non-DIB purchase database 498), building an
animation of product cascade (flow of products being acquired over time)
as well as the animation of the DS/SP model tail formation (past sales
over time) according to the DS/SP model proportions. [0269] Retrieve the
DIBs (related to the specified region) at the DIB databases 491, building
an animation of the DIB space (flow of DIBs over time). [0270] Combine
the shopping path animation (the product cascade, the DS/SP model tail
and the DIB space) with the region map, creating an actual model of the
regional Shopping Path animation [0271] Store it at DS/SP model
animations database 589.

[0273] In another embodiment of this invention, a DS/SP model system have
access to the enterprise analytical databases (data warehouse and OLAP 14
of FIG. 11), collecting the required data, building DS/SP model
animations (by DS/SP model animations builder process 850) and delivering
those animations to enterprise applications 17.

[0274] Embodiment in a Programmed Information Appliance

[0275]FIG. 84 is a block diagram showing a representative example logic
device in which various aspects of the present invention may be embodied.
As will be understood to practitioners in the art from the teachings
provided herein, the invention can be implemented in hardware and/or
software. In some embodiments of the invention, different aspects of the
invention can be implemented in either client-side logic or server-side
logic. As will be understood in the art, the invention or components
thereof may be embodied in a fixed media program component containing
logic instructions and/or data that when loaded into an appropriately
configured computing device cause that device to perform according to the
invention. As will be understood in the art, a fixed media containing
logic instructions may be delivered to a user on a fixed media for
physically loading into a user's computer or a fixed media containing
logic instructions may reside on a remote server that a user accesses
through a communication medium in order to download a program component.

[0276]FIG. 84 shows an information appliance (or digital device) 1700
that may be understood as a logical apparatus that can read instructions
from media 1717 and/or network port 1719, which can optionally be
connected to server 1720 having fixed media 1722. Apparatus 1700 can
thereafter use those instructions to direct server or client logic, as
understood in the art, to embody aspects of the invention. One type of
logical apparatus that may embody the invention is a computer system as
illustrated in 1700, containing CPU 1707, optional input devices 1709 and
1711, disk drives 1715 and optional monitor 1705. Fixed media 1717, or
fixed media 1722 over port 1719, may be used to program such a system and
may represent a disk-type optical or magnetic media, magnetic tape, solid
state dynamic or static memory, etc.. In specific embodiments, the
invention may be embodied in whole or in part as software recorded on
this fixed media. Communication port 1719 may also be used to initially
receive instructions that are used to program such a system and may
represent any type of communication connection.

[0277] The invention also may be embodied in whole or in part within the
circuitry of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a
programmable logic device (PLD). In such a case, the invention may be
embodied in a computer understandable descriptor language, which may be
used to create an ASIC, or PLD that operates as herein described.

[0278] 7. Other Embodiments

[0279] The invention has now been described with reference to specific
embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the
art. In particular, a user digital information appliance has generally
been illustrated as a personal computer. However, the digital computing
device is meant to be any information appliance for interacting with a
remote data application, and could include such devices as a digitally
enabled television, cell phone, personal digital assistant, laboratory or
manufacturing equipment, etc. It is understood that the examples and
embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes and that
various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested by
the teachings herein to persons skilled in the art and are to be included
within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the
claims.

[0280] Furthermore, various different actions can be used to effect
indications of a product or other display object. For example, a voice
command may be spoken by the purchaser, a key may be depressed by the
purchaser, a button on a client-side scientific device may be depressed
by the user, or selection using any pointing device may be effected by
the user.

[0281] All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein or
filed with this application, including any references filed as part of an
Information Disclosure Statement, are incorporated by reference in their
entirety.